NORTHLAND REGIONAL COUNCIL NRC NEEDS TO DO MORE TO SUPPORT NORTHLAND TERRITORIAL AUTHORITIES AND THE AUCKLAND COUNCIL IN KEEPING RISKY GMOs OUT OF THE REGION

GE FREE NORTHLAND Press Release l6 November 2011

NRC NEEDS TO DO MORE TO SUPPORT NORTHLAND TERRITORIAL AUTHORITIES AND
THE AUCKLAND COUNCIL IN KEEPING RISKY GMOs OUT OF THE REGION


GE Free Northland are pleased by the NRC decision yesterday to
reaffirm its own precautionary GE policy and to appoint NRC Chairman
Craig Brown to represent the council on the Inter Council Working
Party on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

"We are concerned, however, that the NRC failed to vote to contribute
funds towards the collaborative section 32 analysis on GMOs that all
Northland territorial authorities and Auckland Council are
undertaking," said Martin Robinson, GE Free Northland spokesperson.

There is sustained concern in Northland and other parts of New
Zealand, about genetic engineering (GE) experiments and releases in
this country, particularly in view of the documented adverse impacts
of GMOs overseas and inadequately contained GE experiments in NZ.

“Nonetheless, central government continues to ignore local community
and independent scientists concerns about GMOs,” said Mr. Robinson.

"Therefore, the NRC needs to put its shoulder to the wheel and support
its territorial authorities and Auckland Council and contribute
funding to the important current work programme of the ICWP on GMOs".

"The NRC is supposed to be the over arching environmental protection
authority for the region. In addition, NRC contributing funds would be
a fiscally prudent move- as by doing the work collaboratively,
councils can share costs and staff expertise".

NRC Chairman Craig Brown responds:

"Having been involved in the process of investigating the risks of
GMOs for well over 10 years, I am disappointed that my council did not
support me yesterday in taking a further step to protect our region.

In my view, it is important that the NRC contribute funds towards a
collaborative section 32 analysis of GMOs, as part of a possible plan
change or any other steps to reduce the  risk from GMOs.

I note that Auckland Council and all territorial authorities are
already committed to working constructively together in the best
interests of the region, and working towards a possible plan change to
regulate GMOs on a local level.

However, the NRC still has a precautionary policy in our operative
Long Term Council Community Plan.

I am pleased that the council reinforced its precautionary approach to
GMOs yesterday and its membership in the Inter Council Working Party
on GMOs.  By inference our serious concerns remain about potential
harm from GMO field trials or releases."  (end quote)

Given the NRC's failure to contribute funds to the current work
programme of the ICWP on GMOs, Free Northland urges members of the
public to make submissions to the NRC draft Regional Policy Statement
(RPS) document, asking the NRC to both retain and strengthen its
precautionary GE provision.

"It is very odd indeed that the NRC has neglected to include its
precautionary GE provision in the NRC draft RPS document,"  said Mr.
Robinson.  Submissions close on 9 December 2011.

The District Councils of Northland and Auckland Council "super city"
will now proceed with a collaborative investigation of the proposed
plan change because of the risks to our biosecurity, environment,
economy, and the livelihoods of existing non -GM primary producers.

In pre-Super City terms that territorial bloc is the equivalent of 10
district and regional councils, and represents one-third of New
Zealand's population.

ENDS

More information:      GE FREE NORTHLAND
                              Chairperson, Zelka Grammer      09 432 2155
                              Spokesperson, Martin Robinson  09 407 8650