Listen: Irrigation cuts 'expected but disappointing'

CEO of Irrigation New Zealand Andrew Curtis. Photo / Supplied

The Government has begun winding down public subsidies for large-scale irrigation projects, but has agreed to honour previous commitments to existing schemes and three that are still in the works.

Although this announcement was expected it is still disappointing says CEO of Irrigation New Zealand Andrew Curtis who spoke to The Country's Jamie Mackay.

The Hurunui Water Project and the Hunter Downs Irrigation Scheme, both in Canterbury will now miss out on funding and Curtis is concerned it is for the wrong reasons.

"These two schemes have probably got some of the strictest environmental requirements of any piece of rural or urban infrastructure development in the country. So we didn't quite understand some of the comments being made around adverse environmental effects."

Another concern for Curtis is that both areas are very drought-prone, "we need to work out a way that we're going to help these farmers in these regions be more resilient."

Listen below: