Listen: Nathan Guy - Labour freshwater policy 'ludicrous'

Jacinda Ardern has announced Labour's water policy which would charge a royalty for commercial usage and use the money to clean up rivers, lakes and streams.

Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy spoke to The Country about the new policy and the effect it could have on farmers.

"This is really concerning this policy; it's not well thought through...it's effectively farmers getting a blank invoice."

Mr Guy goes further to say "any provincial rural MP in Labour has been squashed by Jacinda Ardern."

Irrigation installation and upkeep is a cost within itself says Guy, and to charge for water which "belongs to everyone" is "going to cause a whole lot of heartache in rural New Zealand."