This previous week has been dominated by water-related issues across the country.

Minister Simeon Brown has sent a 'please explain' to Wellington and Upper Hutt councils over water leakage and shortage issues. 

Meanwhile, sewage has forced several Auckland beaches to temporarily shut down.

Water New Zealand CEO Gillian Blythe says the nation's water infrastructure has been underfunded for decades.

"The thing that keeps me positive is that we are having this conversation, and we're having the conversation and we now have a far better appreciation of how bad the problem is."

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