Genetic Engineering (GMO land use) has no place in QUALITY primary production
and puts our economy, key markets, environment and health at risk.

new National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry, 16,000 Kiwi submittors say NO to GE trees

new National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry

by Zelka Linda Grammer

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) released the new Environmental Standards (NES) for Plantation Forestry in August 2017, after putting out the draft NES-PF two years ago.

The new NES-PF (1) gives foresters, councils, and communities clear national guidelines on how to protect the environment while achieving a sustainable forestry industry ((although many submitters would have preferred stronger provisions to protect indigenous trees, wildlife habitats, and ecosystems).

Severe pressure on MPI resulted in the agency removing a controversial clause 6.4 (GE trees), which was added at the eleventh hour with no consultation with the NZ Farm Forestry Association, Forest and Bird, and other key stakeholders) from the new NES-PF.

Various councils with strong precautionary GE policies, foresters, and other primary producers welcomed the removal of the clause that would have permitted the planting of GE trees anywhere in NZ and specifically overriden any precautionary or prohibitive GE policies and rules of local councils (including those of Northland, Auckland, and Hawke's Bay).

Stop GE Trees- make a submission to the Ministry for Primary Industries and.. protect our local councils excellent precautionary and prohibitive GE policies in local plans


GE FREE NZ Call to Action: 

Proposed National Environmental Standard (NES) for Plantation Forestry


The Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) are calling for submissions.  There are grave concerns that the MPI proposed new National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry would remove the ability of Councils to place any precautionary or prohibitive GE policies in local plans.  

For more information see below :)

Submissions must be received by MPI before 5 pm, Tuesday 11 August 2015

Keep Northland Pine Forests GE-Free

Keep Northland Pine Forests

GE-Free



Public Meeting this Friday


Call to action from GE Free Northland- further submission period ...Whangarei District Council... Far North District Council

Call to Action from GE Free Northland

Do you support Northland and Auckland becoming the first region in NZ to ban GMO releases ...and ..class EPA approved outdoor GE experiments as a Discretionary activity, subject to additional local requirements (that the HSNO Act does not require)?

Stand with Northland primary producers to support and help strengthen Whangarei District Council...and ... Far North District Council's excellent collaborative GMO Plan change to ban all GMO releases

with a further submission!

More information:  GE Free Northland

GE Decision Victory For NZ Growers And Farmers

NZ EXPORTS AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FACE DESTRUCTION IF MINISTER CHANGES GMO RULES

27/06/2013  GE FREE NZ Press Release

NZ Exports and Regional Development Face Destruction If Minister Changes GMO Rules

PRECAUTONARY APPROACH URGED

Northern Advocate
"Cautionary approach urged"  l8 June 2013
by Lindy Laird

The Northland Conservation Board will continue to press for a precautionary approach on genetically modified organisms to be specified in the Northland Regional Policy Statement.

Board members will speak in support of its submission during the RPS hearings this week.  The issue was discussed at the board's meeting on 31 May- its last public meeting of the year.

NRC Chairman Craig Brown gave the board background to the RPS process.  He said the majority of councillors on the policy committee had voted against including specific text on GMOs despite an overwhelming number of supporting public submissions.

The board has also written to Northland Regional Council expressing concerns about the policy committee's decision to omit precautionary text. 

Not quite as hot a topic was the Northland Kauri National park proposal, which has gone on the backburner.

The meeting heard that stumbling blocks include the defintiion of "co-governance" between Iwi and the Crown, kauri dieback (PTA, and whether all Northland Waitangi Treaty claims should be settled before a decision is made on a Kauri National Park.

The board is concerned its own role in a number of issues will be affected by broad changes to the Department of Conservation's structure, taking place from September.

The changes are designed to focus field staff on frontline conservation work, with a new business arm developing joint ventures and sponsorship for conservation projects.

The number of conservancies will shrink from 11 to six regions.

GE SOY - THE GREATEST THREAT TO ALL HUMANITY

Shocking Stealth Cause of Birth Defects

Posted By Dr.

GE FREE Northland Party & Fundraiser

GE FREE Northland Party & Fundraiser

10 reasons why we don’t need GM foods

With the cost of food recently skyrocketing – hitting not just shoppers but the poor and hungry in the developing world – genetically modified (GM) foods are once again being promoted as the way to feed the world. But this is little short of a confidence trick. Far from needing more GM foods, there are urgent reasons why we need to ban them altogether.

GMO's SEEN AS RISKY BUSINESS- MAKE USERS LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE: POLL

The Northland Age Thursday, 28 January 2010

GMOs seen as a risky business -  Make users legally responsible: poll

 The majority of Northlanders and Aucklanders want strict controls over any genetically-modified (GM) plants and animals grown in their areas, according to a Colmar Brunton poll conducted late last year.

 The poll, commissioned by the Inter-Council Working Party on GMO Risk Evaluation and Management Options, found that two-thirds or more of respondents favoured regulation of at least a strength that would make users of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) legally responsible for any environmental or economic harm, either by way of local regulation or changes to national legislation.

GE Free Northland celebratory "do" at Pararua Bay Tavern- Sunday, 28 February 2010

The results of the Colmar Brunton GE poll are out- the vast majority of
Northlanders are with us in opposing GMO land use on our patch.

Come party and celebrate all the hard work and victories we have achieved.

Sunday, 28th February 2010
GE FREE NORTHLAND Celebration at Parua Bay Tavern (3pm-8pm)

featuring Guest artist
BIG BELLY WOMAN (Hokaianga reggae sounz)
www.bigbellywoman.com/
Big Belly Woman for a Positive Future and Global Unity

Surprise Local talent -  Sink and Swim,
including: David & Claudia Meredith

Kids entertainment:  Louis the Circus entertainer, face painting
plus:
Organic sausage sizzle
Delicious GE free food
available at the Parua Bay Tavern

Tickets available from:
Musicor- Cameron Street Mall
Putiputi Ra Organics- 79 Walton Street

Big 'no' for GM food

letters to editor:

editor@northernadvocate.co.nz

******p. 6, Friday, 15th January 2010 RURAL ADVOCATE

"Big 'no' for GM food"

by Zelka Grammer, spokesperson

GE Free Northland

The results of a Colmar Brunton poll, commissioned by local authorities from Auckland north to Cape Reinga because of growing concerns of about genetically modified organisms (GMOs), was released just before Christmas.

The poll was remarkably consistent, showing significant opposition to GMO land use from both rural and urban dwellers.

Monsanto's Genetically Modified Corn Linked to Organ Failure

Read the study and more here:

http://bytestyle.tv/node/219

COUNCILS TAKE ACTION AFTER POLL REVEALS GE CONCERN

"Councils take action after poll reveals GE concern"                                                              21 December 2009 NORTHERN ADVOCATE by Mike Barrington

Whangarei and Kaipara District councils have begun moves to tighten controls on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Both last week adopted recommendations from the Inter-council Working Party on GMO Risk Evaluation and Management Options, which commissioned a Colmar Brunton poll that showed most Northlanders were concerned about the risks associated with genetically modified plants and animals.

Bayer Blamed at Trial for Crops ‘Contaminated’ by Modified Rice

By Andrew M. Harris

Nov. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Bayer CropScience AG is responsible for financial damage sustained by Missouri farmers when their rice crops were contaminated by genetically modified seeds, the growers’ lawyer told a federal court jury in St. Louis.

Their trial is the first of a series the Bayer AG unit is defending against farmers from five states making similar claims. More than 1,200 such cases have been filed.

PUBLIC GIVE "THUMBS UP" FOR BAN ON GMO's

Public Give "Thumbs Up'"for Ban on GMO's
 
Most people across the Auckland and Northland region want companies using Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) to be held strictly liable for damage, and in some areas most want a ban.
 
A poll conducted by a multi-council working group on regulation of GM organisms found that all communities strongly favour making users of GMOs legally responsible for any economic or environmental harm that may result.

GE Free Northland Press Release 10 December 2009 "LOCAL COMMUNITIES REJECT THE RISKS OF GMO LAND USE

 

 

GE FREE NORTHLAND (NZ) Press Release l0 December 2009

 

LOCAL COMMUNITIES REJECT THE RISKS OF GMO LAND USE

 

Communities seek stricter regulation of GM plants and animals

www.wdc.govt.nz/xml/ps.aspx?fn=/resources/13722/Communities-seek-stricter-regulation-of-GM-plants-and-animals.html

Communities seek stricter regulation of GM plants and animals

WHANGAREI DISTRICT COUNCIL   Media Release - (9 December 2009)

Whangarei Mayor Stan Semenoff says it’s time the Northland Regional Council woke up to the fact Northlanders have major concerns about the risks associated with genetically modified plants and animals.

The regional council refused to support or fund a poll on the issue, but the poll results show significant community concern and a demand for local government action.

INGHAMS SLAPPED FOR TV ADVERTS

www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/northland/local-news/bay-chronicle/3095066/Inghams-slapped-for-TV-adverts

Inghams slapped for TV adverts

The Bay Chronicle , Northland

Last updated 26/11/2009

NORTHLAND/NZ ALERT: Zelka Grammer who questioned the claims.Relevant offers

 

Claiming to be GM-free might have worked for poultry producer Inghams if GE Free Northland spokeswoman Zelka Grammer hadn’t been alert and persistent.

Inghams last week received a warning from the Commerce Commission that it risked breaching the Fair Trading Act by claiming that its chickens contained no genetically modified content.

Zelka takes on chicken giants and wins

call for letters to the editor: editor@northernadvocate.co.nz

www.northernadvocate.co.nz/local/news/zelka-takes-on-chicken-giants-and-wins/3906838/

Zelka takes on chicken giants and wins

NORTHERN ADVOCATE

by Rosemary Roberts

24th November 2009

DETERMINED: Zelka Grammer, whose complaint to the New Zealand Commerce Commission helped force Inghams Enterprises (NZ) Ltd to stop claiming its chickens contain no genetically-modified ingredients.

She's not crowing, but Whangarei's Zelka Grammer is quietly pleased to have instigated action that led to frozen chicken manufacturer Inghams being rebuked for claiming that its chickens contain no genetically-modified ingredients.

"It took time but it is certainly very gratifying," she said.

Support for Inghams from an Unlikely Source!

Support for Inghams from an Unlikely Source (GE FREE NZ Press Release 18 November 2009)

 

Chicken-producer Inghams, under fire for misleading consumers is being offered support from a most unlikely source: GE free NZ (in food and environment).

 

GE Free NZ has offered support to the manufacturer in living up to its promise of a GM-free Policy, and keeping faith with its customers, even though there is still the risk of accidental GM contamination in future.

COMMISSION RULING HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR PROPER GE LABELLING

 

www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/commission-ruling-highlights-need-proper-ge-labelling

GREENS PRESS RELEASE

18 November 2009

COMMISSION RULING HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR PROPER GE LABELLING

Inghams warned over GM claims

call for letters to editor: in support of the complaint laid with the NZ Commerce Commission (by Zelka Grammer of Northland and also Soil & Health) against Inghams chicken company

letters from Aussies welcome!

(200 words maximum, pls provide your full contact details for the NZ HERALD editor)

email: letters@nzherald.co.nz

 

 

www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10610085

Inghams warned over GM claims

NZ HERALD

11:30 AM Wednesday Nov 18, 2009

The Commerce Commission has warned poultry producer Inghams Enterprises over its claims its chickens contained no genetically modified (GM) ingredients.

High Lysine GM Maize Withdrawn, Safety Concerns

Institute of Science in Society
www.i-sis.org.uk/HighLysineGMMaize.php
ISIS Press Release 11/11/09

High Lysine GM Maize Withdrawn, Safety Concerns
***********************************************
***********************************************

A much touted second generation “nutritionally enhanced” GM
crop bites the dust, as company fails to address serious
health concerns; but don’t suppose that regulation will
triumph Dr. Mae-Wan Ho and Prof. Peter Saunders

Monsanto withdraws maize from regulatory approval citing
commercial reasons

AUTHORITY IGNORED CORN RISK- EXPERT

Authority ignored corn risk - expert
The Press
(Christchurch) 12/11/09

Trans-Tasman food regulators knew nine years ago of the adverse effects of heating genetically modified (GM) crops, but still approved for human consumption a GM corn now withdrawn from Europe.

A Canterbury University research centre says Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) was aware of the consequences of heating to a certain temperature a high-lysine DuPont-Pioneer GM soybean before its approval in 2000.

Europe balks at GE corn in NZ

www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/national/3020246/
Europe balks at GE corn in NZ
By PAUL GORMAN - The Press 02/11/2009 (Christchurch)

A genetically engineered (GE) corn authorised as safe for New Zealanders to eat has been withdrawn from commercial development in Europe because of safety concerns there.

Monsanto's high-lysine LY038 corn - intended as feed for animals - was approved as safe for human consumption in New Zealand in December 2007 after a six-month government delay.

Food Safety Minister Needs To Question GE Food Safety and Labeling

Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson needs to ensure a comprehensive review of the labeling of genetically engineered (GE) food ingredients and GE food safety in New Zealand, now that 40 different GE food applications have been approved for use in New Zealand, including foods derived from 61 GE plant lines (1), according to the Soil & Health Association of New Zealand. Soil & Health says the latest approvals (2) have gone through despite an increase in evidence of the health risks from GE food.

GM food can cause cancer - French scientist Seralini

Thursday, 22 October 2009 19:48

GM food can cause cancer
Down to Earth, October 31 2009
http://downtoearth.org.in/full6.asp?foldername=20091031&filename=inv&sec...

French scientist Gilles-Eric Seralini unmasked the dangers of genetically modified brinjal, almost approved for commercial production in India. He shared with Savvy Soumya Misra his findings on Bt brinjal and Roundup Ready soybean

*On the data submitted on Bt brinjal by Mahyco for approval from the Indian government

The data submitted to the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (geac) of the Union environment ministry is not valid; it has not been signed by the scientist who conducted the tests. What is more scandalous is that the studies on the effects of Bt brinjal were conducted for just three months.

If the product is to be consumed by humans, the tests should have been for a period of at least two years—the lifespan of a rodent.

Alarming facts about genetically engineered foods

  • Animals have become seriously ill or died from Genetically Engineered (GE) foods
  • Hazardous genes from GE foods that you eat can become inserted into your own genes
  • An unexpected poison killed 37 persons eating a food supplement produced by GE bacteria. This disaster was not coincidental:
  • Top researchers confirm that genetic engineering is inherently unsafe and unpredictable.
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