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A war over water is heating up in the Far North as two councils go to battle over the water supply in Kaitaia.
There was concern that in two weeks time drought-like conditions would leave residents high and dry but the issue is now turning into a blame game.
The Northland Regional Council says it will not allow the Far North District Council to draw greater volumes of water from the Awanui River for ecological reason.
Both councils agreed on Thursday night's Close Up that Kaitaia will not go dry.
"Kaitaia is not going to lose its water supply. As far we're concerned, Kaitaia is the highest priority, it will continue to get the water, and it's not going to be an issue," assured Ian Walker, deputy chair of the Northland Regional Council.
But then they began disagreeing on who should manage the town's water ways.
The Regional Council says Kaitaia's pipes are old, fragile and broken, and 40% of all water there is wasted.
But the District Council says it has spent a lot of money on the waterways.
However, it looks like Kaitaia will not go dry for now.
