Tasmania’s success with water storage was highlighted by former Tasmanian Irrigation CEO Andrew Kneebone at the Primary Industries New Zealand Summit in Christchurch in June.
Despite just being quarter the size of New Zealand with a population of around 570,000, Tasmania has successfully developed 19 irrigation schemes across the state — a coordinated effort that’s supporting rural communities, protecting the environment, and providing economic stability in the face of climate change.
Kneebone was visiting New Zealand, with the backing of the Ministry for Primary Industries, to share his experience of water storage and what led to its success in Tasmania.
During his visit he addressed Ministers and MPs over lunch at Parliament, briefed government officials in Wellington, and held regional meetings with water user groups in Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s CEO Alan Thomson says as Tasmania’s experience has shown, well-managed water storage has a multitude of benefits, and B+LNZ said it supports national direction to enable on-farm water storage in the Government’s recent RMA national direction consultation.
“We need easier pathways around water security and storage to protect primary production and the environment while providing economic stability, particularly for rural communities.
“New Zealand could learn a lot from Tasmania in the way they garnered community buy-in and focused on the big picture benefits of water storage, which go beyond just primary production.
“While reliable freshwater supplies give farmers the confidence to invest in forages and genetics which underpin productivity and profitability, they also benefit the environment and the wider community.”
According to IrrigationNZ, Kneebone’s insights have sparked fresh momentum in New Zealand’s water storage conversation – especially around what we need to do next to replicate some of the success in Tasmania.
They say while major irrigation infrastructure exists in parts of Canterbury and Otago, development has lagged across other parts of the country. Yet as pressure mounts from climate change, shifting land use, and increasing demand on freshwater, the need for reliable, scalable, and sustainable water storage has never been more urgent.
Kneebone’s Tasmanian case studies showed just how transformative water storage can be. Small towns once on the brink of collapse are now thriving. Local businesses have reopened, new jobs have been created, and schools and sports fields have returned to life. With reliable water, communities gain options, and those options drive confidence, investment, and better environmental outcomes.
“Tasmania now has enough infrastructure in place that when the weather goes sideways, businesses can keep going,” Kneebone told audiences. “But there’s still more to do – we’re now developing another nine schemes where water remains limited.”
What Tasmania offers is a proven model. A model that balances community, economy and environment, and that could be adapted to New Zealand's unique geography and needs.
IrrigationNZ’s CEO, Karen Williams said the standout learning from Tasmania is the unwavering commitment to balance.
“Andrew was clear: the Tasmanian approach hasn’t always been easy, but they’ve leaned into tough conversations to build long-term solutions that benefit everyone – and they’ve done it through successive governments too which is especially compelling” she said.
A defining principle of Tasmanian Irrigation’s approach is that they won’t dam major rivers. While tributaries may be redirected, the main waterways remain untouched — a deliberate move to protect ecosystems and maintain public confidence.
“It’s a powerful message,” said Williams. “It shows that irrigation doesn’t deserve a bad rap. There are smart, sustainable ways to store and release water — and a tried, tested model gives us a great place to start.”
“With sheep and beef prices in New Zealand already strong, just think of what adding reliable water into that mix could do. Managed well, it would provide an opportunity to really optimise returns.”
So as New Zealand looks to future-proof its direction for freshwater, Tasmania’s experience offers a pathway: one built on community buy-in, economic pragmatism, and environmental care.
The Government is listening, says Williams and investment in some areas is underway.
“We just need to keep going so we get a water storage model in New Zealand that lasts the distance and really sets us up for generations to come.”
Key lessons from Tasmania’s water storage success
- Engage communities early and often.
- Address environmental concerns with genuine sustainability planning.
- Show clear economic benefit in business cases.
- Use a cost-recovery model to keep water affordable.
IrrigationNZ
- Trade-industry organisation, not-for profit
- Nearly 5000 members: farmers, growers, irrigators, irrigation schemes, councils and more
- The organisation exists to advocate, train and educate on the responsible use of water – particularly for the food and fibre sector, while branching out to other areas like sports turfs and retirement villages.