The announcement of $100 million to clean up the country's rivers and lakes is not enough.

This is the message from Fish & Game chief executive Bryce Johnson following the funding announcement in the 2016 Budget.

Many of New Zealand's waterways need to be cleaned.

Bryce says while Finance Minister Bill English's announcement that the Government would look to invest $100 million to help clean up New Zealand rivers, lakes and aquifers over the next decade is a good start, he says it's well short of what is needed.

'While Fish & Game welcomes anything that will help fix the present woeful state of this country's water quality, the sad truth is that this $100 million is only the start of what is needed to undo the damage caused by thoughtless development and intensification.

'Until polluters are properly held to account, the poor old taxpayer is going to have to continue paying hundreds of millions to clean up the mess being made of the environment,” says Bryce.

Bryce says it's time the government and local and regional councils started properly enforcing the existing environment laws.

'The big question needs to be asked – why is water still being dirtied for profit? Making the polluter pay should be the minimum expectation.”

He says the Finance Minister's announcement of funding to clean up polluted waterways contrasts sharply with the Government's plans to weaken the country's cornerstone environmental protection law, the Resource Management Act.

The chief executive also questions the naming of the new fund.

'The name Freshwater Improvement Fund glosses over the real problem – the reality is that it will be spent on rescuing ruined streams, rivers and lakes, not improving them.

'Sadly this is the legacy our children and future generations will inherit from decades of unthinking abuse and exploitation of New Zealand's freshwater.”