Press releases

BACKING FOR LOCAL RIGHT OF PROTECTION AGAINST RISKS OF GMOs

http://press.gefree.org.nz/press/20140210.htm

 

10/02/2014

Backing for Local Right of Protection Against Risks of GMOs

Prime MInister Urged to meet Mayor of Hawaii to Learn about GM Ban

 

GE FREE NZ AOTEAROA Press Release

6 December 2013 


Prime Minister Urged to Meet Mayor of Hawaii to Learn About GM Ban

Precaution vital to prevent GE contamination

 

http://press.gefree.org.nz/press/20131126.htm

 

GE FREE NZ Press Release

26/11/2013

Precaution Vital to Prevent GE Contamination

new report: An overview of genetic modification in New Zealand 1973-2013: the first forty years

new report: An overview of genetic modification in New Zealand 1973-2013: the first forty years 

excellent new report/ expose (from the McGuiness Institute in Wellington) of how the NZ government has failed to implement many of the key useful recommendations from the Royal Commission into Genetic Modification
Download this report here:

http://apo.org.au/research/overview-genetic-modification-new-zealand-1973-2013-first-forty-years

An overview of genetic modification in New Zealand 1973-2013: the first forty years
Wendy McGuinness, Renata Mokena-Lodge | McGuinness Institute
29 August, 2013

An overview of genetic modification in New Zealand 1973-2013: the first forty years
29 August 2013

This report argues that strategically, New Zealand is no further ahead on public policy regarding outdoor use of GMOs than it was when the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification reported its findings in 2001.

Govt coalition partners reject RMA proposal

www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11123339

 

Govt coalition partners reject RMA proposal

By Isaac Davison @Isaac_Davison

Sep 12, 2013  NZ HERALD
National had the support of Act for the bill, which is still being drafted, but needed one more vote to get it over the line. Photo / Getty Images
  
National had the support of Act for the bill, which is still being drafted, but needed one more vote to get it over the line. Photo / Getty Images

Prime Minister John Key has underlined the importance of speeding up building consents to make homes more affordable after the Government's major reforms of the Resource Management Act hit a roadblock.

Mr Key admitted the proposed RMA legislation would need to be changed after National's support parties United Future and the Maori Party made a rare, joint statement of opposition to the reforms.

National had the support of Act for the bill, which is still being drafted, but needed one more vote to get it over the line.

RMA changes strike a rock

http://community.scoop.co.nz/2013/09/maori-party-united-future-rma-changes-strike-a-rock/

 

Māori Party, United Future: RMA changes strike a rock

Press Release – Joint Media Statement

The Mori Party and United Future have decided that they cannot support the governments latest proposed changes to the Resource Management Act, and have written to Environment Minister Amy Adams to outline their concerns.EMBARGOED UNTIL 10:00 am, WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2013
11 September 2013

RMA changes strike a rock

The Māori Party and United Future have decided that they cannot support the government’s latest proposed changes to the Resource Management Act, and have written to Environment Minister Amy Adams to outline their concerns.

“The changes do far more than rebalance the Act to make consenting procedures more efficient. We say the changes to remove emphasis on the ‘maintenance and enhancement of the quality of the environment’ fundamentally rewrite the Act and put a spanner in the works of the legal system, that will take years of litigation to fix up,” said Tariana Turia and Peter Dunne.

“The Resource Management Act was designed to ensure that our use of natural resources is sustainable. Changes to Part Two, which enshrine the driving principles, undermine the whole purpose of the Act,” said Mrs Turia.

Northland communities want stricter GE controls

GE FREE NORTHLAND in food and environment

GE CONTROLS NEED STRENGTHENING, NOT SLASHING

GE controls need strengthening, not slashing

The Green Party is calling for Environment Minister Amy Adams to back off from her threats to strip councils of their power to regulate for genetic engineering in their communities.

The New Zealand Herald today reported that the Minister is investigating how to change the law to stop councils from putting in place controls on genetic engineering (GE) in their communities.

“These councils have established that our current regulations don’t adequately cover them or farmers in the event of a GE contamination and they need to step in and provide those protections,” said Green Party GE spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“So what is this Government’s response? Same as usual, change the law to take away local democracy.

“The controls that councils are putting in pace would place the responsibility, accountability, and liability on the person or company growing the crops, which is where it should be.

“This is how nuclear-free New Zealand started, with local councils taking the stand their community wanted them to take and that is a stance that the whole country is very proud of now.

“This Government wants to strip local councils of their ability to regulate what happens in their own regions.

“Without adequate regulation from central government the burden of risk for GE is placed entirely in the wrong place; on GE-free farmers whose crops have been contaminated from neighbouring GE farms, and on the councils themselves.

“It’s entirely rational for a council to ask GE growers to put aside resources to pay for any crop contamination, and to publically notify an application to release GE crops. Farmers have a right to know if their neighbours are going to be using GE, and ratepayers shouldn’t have to pay for contamination or liability costs.

Syndicate content