New Zealand abstracts about around 2 per cent of its water resource - or 5 per cent if hydropower is excluded - which is low by international standards.
Irrigation accounts for 60 per cent of water usage and pastoral-based activities make up about three quarters of New Zealand's irrigated area - dairy 50 per cent and sheep and beef finishing farms 25 per cent.
The other 25 per cent of land under irrigation supports mainly vegetable and arable crops, alongside fruit and wine growing.
In 2012 it was estimated that irrigated farms provided a $2.7 billion contribution to the economy, and more than double this in terms of the benefits to the wider community.
Curtis said irrigated agriculture underpinned several of the provincial economies on the east coast of New Zealand.
IrrigationNZ chairwoman Nicky Hyslop said there had been a big increase in investment in upgrading irrigation systems, which had seen efficiency improve by 50 per cent over a generation.
Irrigation NZ represents 3600 irrigators and 150 service providers.
