Federated Farmers national president Bruce Wills has called for an ''infrastructural trinity'' of transport, internet and water storage.
In his address to the rural lobby organisation's annual meeting in Ashburton, Mr Wills said it was ''already in [the] Government's thought process'' but deserved more priority. Instead of ''think big'', it should be ''invest local''.
Water needed to be stored ''in times of plenty'' to be used in times of shortage.
There was potential for another 420,000ha of land to be irrigated over time. Research from the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research suggested exports could be boosted by $4 billion a year by 2026, which would support ''thousands'' of new jobs, Mr Wills said.
More consistent river flows in summer would have real benefits for the environment, with improved habitats for fish and birdlife.
He applauded the establishment of Crown Irrigation Investments Ltd, which was allocated an initial $80 million in this year's Budget to help kick-start worthwhile water infrastructure projects, saying it was a ''move in the right direction''.
Better physical connectivity, in concert with technology, could alleviate the pressure Auckland was putting on rural land for housing.
Physical and technological connectedness spread economic development and helped build ''world-class'' towns and cities, not just one city.
Too much focus on cities, especially Auckland, risked ''gutting'' provincial New Zealand to fuel the growth of the country's largest city, he said.
Mr Wills was supportive of the Government's target of doubling primary sector outputs by 2025.
The troubled red meat sector had an exciting future, but bold thinking and change were needed soon, he said.
There had been some ''headwinds'' in the past six months, with drought and recent snow, along with an elevated dollar.
