Should public money be used for large scale water storage

Irrigation New Zealand and Federated Farmers both say the nations economic future depends on water storage - because climate change is bringing more frequent acute and widespread dry periods. They want the government support for the building of new large scale regional water storage, including taking alpine water to help irrigate the Canterbury plains. Environmental groups say irrigators are using the drought to get public money for large scale irrigation that will mainly just benefit themselves. Andrew Curtis is the Chief Executive of Irrigation New Zealand; and Kevin Hackwell is the Advocacy Manager for the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society.