The Waikato River Authority wants Auckland to pay for more water from the Waikato River and suggested up to 10 cents a litre, or $20 million a day.
Authority chief executive Bob Penter said the 10c per litre figure is a starting point aimed at trying to understand what Watercare will do to support the restoration and protection of the Waikato River.
He said it made sense for Watercare to make a financial contribution to improve the river, but the authority is open to hearing other ways that benefit the awa (river).
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff is opposed to paying for water, but told the Herald that Auckland could pay several million dollars towards remediating damage to the Waikato River.
The authority is an independent Crown and iwi voice acting on behalf of the river.
The pricing issue is contained in documents released to the Herald under the Official Information Act.
They reveal frustration and opposition from the Waikato River Authority to a move by Watercare to invoke emergency provisions under the Resource Management Act earlier this month to take an extra 25 million litres of water a day from the Waikato River.
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