They say still waters run deep, and that’s almost certainly the case when it comes to freshwater management.

On the surface, the Labour-led government appears to have made little movement on the issue of water allocation, but there have been reports of strong disagreement between the various coalition parties on the best approach.

However, it’s clear the Government is striking its own way ahead, with two groups set up under its predecessor going on hold.

The freshwater allocation technical advisory group, established in 2016 to test the practicality of policy proposals, has quietly folded - having apparently never produced a report in its nearly two years of existence.

Environment Minister David Parker says the group has not been asked for any advice since he took office, with current policy work being led by Parker and his officials.