United Future
Hon Peter Dunne

Dunne: Smith turns Aqua into sour grapes

"He’s gone totally over the top - there’s not a grain of truth in any of it," Mr Dunne said

"This is not a bill to fast-track Project Aqua. It simply sets up a process to allocate the water from the Waitaki River - water for which there is a great number of competing demands, including those of recreation users.

"Nick Smith can rest assured that United Future will serve its constituency considerably better than National ever has served its," Mr Dunne said.

Mr Dunne said Dr Smith’s outburst was simply "sour grapes because the Outdoor Recreation Party walked away from his table some time ago when they worked out that he and the Nats had very little to offer".

"I guess he’s still feeling a little bruised.

"This bill does not presuppose the outcome of the Project Aqua proposal, and United Future has committed itself to nothing more than hearing the submissions of all parties, including recreational fishers, during the select committee process," Mr Dunne said.

Ends.