Climate Change and Water Supply in New Zealand
Water supply in New Zealand is abundant. New Zealand currently enjoys a massive rainfall along its south west coast, with a largely adequate water supply in the north and east of New Zealand. But how is New Zealand’s water supply going to alter in relation to climate change and global warming? The effects of climate change are that the wet areas will get wetter, and the dry areas will get drier. This means that drought in New Zealand could become a recurrent problem in areas where agriculture is vital to our food supply.
Fortress New Zealand points out that, in order to deal with climate change, we must start to make better provision for distributing our national water supply from those areas of excess to those areas of potential need. This will require planning, public investment and ambitious civil engineering projects to achieve a viable distribution.
There is also the suggestion that, as the rest of the world becomes increasingly short of water, New Zealand should consider exporting surplus water to other countries.