GE Free Northland July 2015 PUBLIC APPEAL FOR FUNDS

                                  July 2015
            GE FREE NORTHLAND new PUBLIC APPEAL FOR FUNDS
Help protect our democratic right to be GE-free!

One of the most important Environment Court decisions this year is the finding that councils can control the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) under the Resource Management Act.
We won in the Environment Court against Federated Farmers of NZ.  
But Federated Farmers has now lodged an appeal in the High Court, attempting to overturn this valuable decision.  Your donation now will help us prevail in the High Court against Federated Farmers latest vexatious appeal (and help stop GE trees).

GE Free Northland requests your help in paying the cost of upcoming High Court action (including the cost of legal counsel) involved in protecting our Northland new Regional Policy Statement's precautionary GMO provisions.

Background:

Northland Regional Council has (as a result of hundreds of submissions from Northlanders as well as the Northland District Councils) reinstated the precautionary GMO provisions in the new Regional Policy Statement, and identified GMOs as an Issue of Significance for Northland tangata whenua and an issue of concern for Northland communities.

In direct opposition to the expressed will of the people of Northland, Federated Farmers of NZ lodged an appeal with the Environment Court, opposing both the precautionary GMO provisions and opposing GMOs being listed in the Issues of Significance for Maori in the region.

Federated Farmers of NZ is trying to undermine key environmental protections in our new Northland Regional Policy Statement, the over-arching document for the next 10 years for Northland.  

GE Free Northland, along with a number of other section 274 parties and Whangarei District Council, is opposing the Federated Farmers of NZ appeal (on the GMO/GE issue).
 
The Soil & Health Association, along with GE Free Northland, supported the Whangarei District Council in a successful defence of the right of local authorities to manage the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in their regions, after Federated Farmers sought a ruling that Northland Regional Council had acted outside the law in taking this approach.

Principal Environment Court Judge L. Newhook determined in May 2015 that there is jurisdiction under the Resource Management Act for regional councils to make provision for the outdoor use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), through regional policy statements and plans.

Since comprehensively losing the appeal (which it initiated) on all points of law, Federated Farmers has now filed an appeal against the Environment Court’s decision with the High Court.

GE Free Northland was delighted to have our view confirmed by Judge Newhook. We’re disappointed, however, that a body that supposedly represents farmers has decided to appeal the Environment Court decision.

Federated Farmers wants to deny Northlanders the right to manage what happens in their own region. This is unacceptable.  

Is there an application waiting in the wings for a GE field trial or GMO release in Northland?  We know that the National Party is pushing to allow GE trees anywhere in NZ, through the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) proposal for a new National Environmental Standard (NES) for Plantation Forestry in NZ.

We need to make a compelling case to the High Court to reject Federated Farmers of NZ's appeal and support Whangarei District Council (appellant) and section 274 parties the Soil & Health Association, GE Free Northland, Taitokerau mana whenua, Far North District Council, Physicians & Scientists for Global Responsibility, and other interested parties who share the goals of the s274 parties listed above.

With your help we can protect and strengthen the precautionary GMO provisions in the new Northland Regional Policy Statement.

Any donations or other financial support would be greatly appreciated.  
Your donations and other financial support will be used to help cover the costs of legal counsel needed for the High Court hearing next month and associated costs over the next 6 months.

Our bank account details are as follows:

GE Free (Northland) Inc account ¬ ANZ Kerikeri
01 0382 0009202 00

Cheques can be posted to:
Secretary, GE Free Northland PO Box 1439  Whangarei 0140 Northland

Thank you for your support so that we can continue doing the good work we do.

Please help us protect the Northland new Regional Policy Statements precautionary GMO provisions, the Whangarei District Council and Far North District Council excellent GMO Plan changes and the precautionary and prohibitive GMO provisions in the Auckland Council proposed Unitary Plan.

Further information below.  Do not hesitate to contact us should you require further information.  GE Free Northland is working in partnership with the Soil & Health Association Aotearoa NZ.  We will be making a substantive submission to the Ministry for Primary Industries, opposing GE trees being allowed in the new NES for Plantation Forestry.

With thanks from the committee of GE Free Northland,

Zelka Grammer ( Chairperson) & Martin Robinson ( Spokesperson)
for GE Free Northland in food & environment

09 432 2155 (Whangarei)      09 407 8650 (Kerikeri)

http://web.gefreenorthland.org.nz
Text above available as one page, doublesided A4 document (PDF)
*section 274 parties ENV-2014-329-000004 (GE/GMOs- Northland new Regional Policy Statement include Physicians & Scientists for Global Responsibility Charitable Trust, Taitokerau mana whenua including Ngapuhi, Ngatiwai, Te Aupouri and Ngati Hau, Puhipuhi Mining Action Group and about a dozen other individuals (some of whom are Northland primary producers)