The Northland Regional Council wants the Government to be more upfront about its plans for freshwater, and how it proposes to tackle Maori rights and interests in the resource.

Councillors held an extraordinary meeting in Whangarei yesterday at which they called for central Government to engage with the regional council better before committing to any changes.

Regional Council Chairman Bill Shepherd said the Government's current position on addressing iwi rights in the context of freshwater is unclear, and it's frustrating.

He said they want the Crown to continue to act as the guardian of the nation's freshwater on behalf of everyone.