A controversial water bottling plant in Christchurch is being asked to 'please explain' after leaked images of its product packaging claim its water comes 200 meters underground.

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The problem is Cloud Ocean Water only has permission to take millions of water a day from a bore – which is just 33 metres deep.

The photos were leaked to Aotearoa Water Action just two weeks ago and it’s understood the water is destined for the Chinese market.

Peter Richardson from Aotearoa Water Action says there are logically two possibilities.

“Either they are taking water illegally from the deep bore, or they are mislabelling their product - and either are serious breaches of their entitlements.”

Environment Canterbury told 1 NEWS Cloud Ocean was granted permission to drill a deeper bore 170m underground, but it doesn't have consent to take any water from it.

They added staff were on site last week and can confirm no water has been taken.

Mr Richardson says that doesn’t mean the company is off the hook.

“If they aren’t in fact taking it from the deep bore then the Commerce Commission needs to get involved because it’s a breach of the Fair Trading Act.”

In a statement, the company says the packaging was printed last year with the expectation it would be drawing from 200 metres.

It says the water is not in the market and has not been sold - but it will be.

The 600-thousand litres en route to China with incorrect labels will still be sold, but with a new sticker on the bottle.

However, the old labels are still being used as water bottling continues at the Belfast site as the company is awaiting new ones.