On Wednesday this week, Hawke's Bay Regional Council chairman Rex Graham met a group of Central Hawke's Bay farmers and local politicians to discuss the Ruataniwha dam.
The meeting arose after a number of farmers raised concerns about the future of the scheme under the newly elected regional council, of which the majority of councillors elected have doubts about the viability of this particular water storage project.
Mr Graham, who attended along with three other regional councillors, said in a statement that the meeting took place at the home of one of the farmers, and "was an excellent, open and frank exchange of views".
Ongaonga farmer Duncan Holden, who is a current irrigator and has signed up to take more water, was at the meeting but said he had been advised not to comment to the media about it.
CHB mayor Alex Walker also attended.