Photo: Gregor RichardsonLabour's planned water charge could have unintended consequences, including more corporate ownership and dairy conversion, irate farmers said at Labour's water policy meeting in Dunedin last night. Labour water spokesman David Parker dismissed such fears, or said there could be remedies, such as different charges for different users. Some did not think it fair that Otago, with relatively good water quality, could be among the hardest hit. He emphasised it was a private view, not that of Federated Farmers, but he believed farmers who polluted waterways should be ''named and shamed''. Mr Parker said he would advocate for a water charge regardless of water quality because it was an important principle.

Source: Otago Daily Times September 19, 2017 17:13 UTC