Allocation and Irrigation

Parts of eastern and southern Marlborough are amongst the driest regions in New Zealand. In these areas water is scarce in the drier seasons, even the small quantities needed for drinking purposes.

Anywhere in Marlborough it is permitted to use water for household and limited stock use. However, volumes larger than 10 cubic metres per day require resource consent in the form of a water permit.

Marlborough District Council is the regulatory authority that issues these consents. In most catchments of Marlborough the quantum of water available for allocation is now approaching sustainable limits.

Some catchments are fully allocated, while in others the only water available are high flows that need to be stored to be of use under late summer conditions.

In certain catchments all surface flows dry up over summer and groundwater represents the only viable source of water. In these areas it is essential to irrigate crops over summer to supplement the low rainfall and offset the naturally high evapotranspiration rate.

Even in the relatively high rainfall Marlborough Sounds Catchments, there is an increasing trend towards irrigation of dairy pasture.

The photograph shows a travelling type pasture irrigator in the Wairau Valley.

For further information on the process to apply for a water permit to take and use water for irrigation see Resource Consents.

More Information:

For more information about how Marlborough compares nationally with water allocation see "Snapshot of Water Allocation in New Zealand, Section 3" from the Ministry for the Environment.