11 Conclusion

Irrigation currently contributes a significant economic value to New Zealand, and has the potential to further increase GDP. Prices for most products will be mildly affected by the resulting increases in productivity. In an open trading economy like New Zealand’s, other products that are subject to rapid price movements in response to supply and demand do so irrespective of New Zealand’s production, although volatility is a key risk for the success of new irrigation development.

There are real impacts of irrigation on social, recreational, cultural and environmental outcomes that need to be optimised with the economic ones described in this report for New Zealand to maximise the national value.