From RNZ · RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa · · 50s
National Promises $300m Water Loans for Farmers
National Party offers $300m low-cost loans to help farmers store water for dry seasons.
In brief
National Party offers $300m low-cost loans to help farmers store water for dry seasons. National Party pledges $300 million in low-cost loans for water storage to secure farmer votes in the 2026 election. Originally reported by RNZ.
National targets farmer vote
National Party promises $300 million low-cost loans for water storage to help farmers collect rainwater during wet seasons and use it during dry periods.
Water security challenge
New Zealand captures only two percent of annual rainfall despite high per capita rainfall, causing water insecurity in many regions.
Irrigation potential
400,000 hectares of farmland could be irrigated with new water storage schemes, boosting production and local economies.
Funding and implementation
The $300 million loans would be repaid within ten years, with $16.3 million annual write-down cost managed through the Primary Sector Growth Fund.
The key point
National Party pledges $300 million in low-cost loans for water storage to secure farmer votes in the 2026 election.
