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GE-Free Northland
11 August 2020 Media release
All of Northern peninsula (land and sea) protected from GE/GMOs
"A bouquet for Northland Regional Council"
GE-Free Tai Tokerau welcomes the news that Northland Regional Council
has placed precautionary and prohibitive GE/GMO wording into the new
Regional Plan. The Environment Court has accepted the addition, which
enabled Far North District Council and Whangarei District Council to
withdraw their joint appeal against NRC.
"Northland region's valuable agricultural, horticultural, apiculture,
fisheries, and forestry sectors (and "Northland, naturally" brand) must be
protected. Our valuable enterprises, access to key markets and
premiums would be put at risk if outdoor use of GMOs were permitted in
Northland. Some of the world's most celebrated food regions—Tuscany,
Provence, Bordeaux—are official GM Free Zones. That's the club we want
to be part of, and Northland and Auckland are well placed geographically
to achieve this distinction," said Zelka Grammer, chairperson, GE-Free Tai
Tokerau."
The agreed wording by relevant parties (including the Soil & Health
Association Aotearoa and Iwi/ hapu in the rohe) will achieve the
sustainable management purpose of the Resource Management Act
(RMA) and give effect to the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement a
nd Regional Policy Statement for Northland (RPS). In particular, the
provisions give effect to the operative Northland RPS Policy 6.1.2, which
requires that a precautionary approach be adopted toward any
release of GMOs.
The restored GMO wording provides consistency with similar provisions in
the Whangarei and Far North District Plans, as well as with the Auckland
Unitary Plan. The agreed provisions also support the implementation of
Proposed Regional Plan Policy D.1.1 (4), which requires an assessment of
adverse effects on tangata whenua or their taonga when outdoor use of
GE or GMOs is proposed.
The Northland Regional Plan seeks to protect the CMA from adverse
effects associated with the use of GMOs. The policies provide such
protection by adopting a precautionary approach, encouraging adaptive
management, directing that effects be avoided, requiring bonds as a
condition of resource consents, and requiring a risk management plan for
field trials.
"The council's decision is a victory for common sense and for the interests of all Northlanders concerned about the possible introduction of risky GMOs into the environment, whether they be plants, animals, insects or micro organisms," chairperson Zelka Grammer said.
"This is another win. If GMOs were to be trialled or released into the environment they would be very difficult, if not impossible, to eradicate. There is also potential for serious economic loss to regions marketing their products and tourism under New Zealand's 'clean green' brand, if outdoor experimentation or release were permitted," said Ms. Grammer.
The NRC voted by a substantial majority to place precautionary and
prohibitive GE/GMO provisions in the Coastal Marine Area of the new
Regional Plan. The Council took action to foster sustainable and
integrated management, protection of our biosecurity and wider
environment, and our existing valuable GM free status, food sovereignty,
and cultural values. Council thereby ensured robust RMA processes
prevailed over politics.
Farmers and other primary producers can now feel confident their
livelihoods are protected. Raw materials from the Coastal Marine
environment (such as seaweed and fish products) and marine species will
also be protected from risky GE/GMO applications that might be lodged
with EPA bureaucrats in Wellington and "rubber stamped".
Action was and is needed by local councils to protect their biosecurity,
environment, as well as farmers and other ratepayers from outdoor use
of GE/GMOs because of significant deficiencies in the national legislation
(Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act) as identified by Local
Government NZ, many councils, and primary producers.
Deficiencies in HSNO include inadequate liability and no mandatory
requirement for the EPA to take a precautionary approach to outdoor
GE/GMO applications. GMOs include risky controversial gene edited
organisms, shown in recent years to have unpredictable and undesirable
off-target adverse impacts.
Kudos also to Whangarei District Council and Far North District Council,
who worked in a collaborative and fiscally responsible manner, in keeping
with the wishes of local primary producers and other ratepayers, to lodge
the important joint appeal challenging NRC's flawed 2019 GE/GMO
decision.
Kaipara District Council (a formative member of the Northland/ Auckland
"Inter Council Working Party on GMO Risk Evaluation & Management
Options"* has wisely voted to progress a similar GE/GMO plan change as
WDC and FNDC, this will take place next year as part of the KDC review
of their District Plan.
ENDS
Contact:
Zelka Linda Grammer
chairperson, GE-Free Tai Tokerau (in food & environment)
email: linda.grammer@gmail.com
022 309 5039
Dr. Benjamin Pittman
027 505 8705
email: benjamin.pittman@gmail.com
Further background:
GE FREE NZ 13 August 2020 Media Release
"Protection from GMOs for Northland growers and exporters welcomed"
https://press.gefree.org.nz/press/20200813.htm
17 June 2020 GE FREE NZ Media Release
Precautionary GE/GMOs provisions welcome
https://press.gefree.org.nz/press/20200617.htm
"Victory for GMO opposition: Northland Regional Council votes to reverse position"
17 June 2020 Northern Advocate
GMO protesters celebrate a victory after NRC votes to reverse its no-provision position
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=12340319