Plans to reduce water takes could make farming 'uneconomic'Ross Giblin The Ruamāhanga River near Te Whiti Rd, Masterton. Plans to cut water availability near Wairarapa waterways could lead to farmers turning their land into lifestyle blocks and walking away. This is going to get a lot worse with the impact of climate change and also the water allocation policies proposed by the Ruamāhanga Whaitua Committee. Chair of the Wairarapa Water Users Society Leo Vollebregt said the implications of the Whaitua's recommendations were "massive" for affected farmers. Community meetingsThe Whaitua committee will share their policy package, including river and lake management, managing land and discharges, and water allocation and flows.

Source: Stuff April 23, 2018 00:45 UTC