The leaders of the National and Labour parties have butted heads at TVNZ's leaders debate over whether this election's created an urban rural divide

Bill English said the Greens and Labour have made the issue of water quality divisive.

He said he believes the government can work with farmers to get high food production and high water quality.

"Not try and select out some, punish them, threaten them; you work with them because the water quality is going to become an issue eventually."

Jacinda Ardern said she hasn't got off side with rural New Zealand over her water taxes.

"I personally believe that there is unity in the issue of clean waterways"