News

"Door open to GMOs in the North" There are fears genetically engineered plants and gene-modified animals could be used if restrictions aren't put in place" "Genetically modified organisms could be released in Northland"

https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/114332326/genetically-modified-organisms-could-be-released-in-northland-after-council-vote

GE Free Northland is furious with Northland Regional Council's decision not to put controls on genetically engineered plants (GE) and gene-modified animals.

The grassroots organisation - which in 2000 was backed by a 7000-name petition calling for Northland to be GE free - fears genetically modified organisms (GMOs) could now be used in the area.

Chairwoman Zelka Grammar said without restrictions, the likes of genetically engineered salmon - which were found to mutate in a South Island trial - could be introduced in a marine farm anywhere in Northland.

GMO-free policy not in North's draft air, water, soil, coast plan

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12144132

 

NORTHERN ADVOCATE  20 OCTOBER 2018

"GMO FREE POLICY NOT IN NORTH'S DRAFT AIR, SOIL, WATER PLAN" 

BY LINDY LAIRD

 

There could be a small break in the ring fence meant to keep genetically modified organisms out of Northland's environment and primary sector.

The decision has groups who vehemently fought for 10 years for that GMO-proof fence now criticising the Northland Regional Council's decision to exclude its strong Regional Policy Statement (RPS) on GMOs from its proposed Regional Plan.

A year after no-to-GMO policies became operational in Whangārei and Far North Districts' and NRC legislation, the NRC failed to copy over its stance to its new environment plan.

The overarching Regional Plan — the draft of which received 360 submissions overall — will encompass, replace and update three outdated water and soil, air and coastal plans. More than 100 of those submissions referred to the GMOs subject.

Gene editing is unacceptable

 

"Gene editing is unacceptable"  22 October 2018 NZ Farmers Weekly
by Hawke's Bay primary producers/ exporters
Bruno Chambers, David Cranwell, Phyllis Tinchinin and John Bostock

Farmers delighted three-year battle over GM-free status dropped

https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/country/363201/farmers-delighted-three-year-battle-over-gm-free-status-dropped

 

Farmers delighted three-year battle over GM-free status dropped

 

Hawke's Bay food producers win genetic modification free battle


https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=12099940

It's official- Hastings is now a GM Free Food Producing District!

http://purehawkesbay.org/its-official-hastings-is-now-a-gm-free-food-producing-district/

 

IT’S OFFICIAL: HASTINGS IS NOW A GM FREE FOOD PRODUCING DISTRICT

Hawke’s Bay food producers have won a major battle to keep the Hastings District GM Free.

Federated Farmers has formally abandoned its legal attempt to overturn Hastings official GM Free food producing status.

Pure Hawke’s Bay, a lobby group representing Hawke’s Bay growers, exporters and farmers backed the GM Free plan rules adopted by the Hastings District Council in 2015.

GE Free Northland ACTION ALERT- submissions needed in response to Northland Regional Council draft Long Term Plan 2018-28


*SUBMISSION PERIOD NOW CLOSED
GE Free Northland Action Alert

There is an opportunity to make submissions in response to the Northland Regional Council draft Long Term Plan 2018-28.
https://www.nrc.govt.nz/Your-Council/Council-Projects/long-term-plan-2018-2028/

The NRC needs your feedback to make decisions for the Long Term Plan 2018-2028, which is supposed to reflect community aspirations and wishes, and set policy direction for NRC.

The NRC inappropriately removed the highly important strong precautionary and prohibitive GE policy from the operative NRC Long Term Plan a few years ago (without any public consultation or legitimate reason).

Please make a submission to NRC (in addition to any other points you wish to raise) urging the NRC to replace the important precautionary and prohibitive GE policy (that was in various NRC Long Term Plans since the 2004-14 LTCCP) and the $10,000 contingency fund (in the event of any EPA approved outdoor GE applications for Northland). Please ask to be heard (you can change your mind, or give your speaking time to someone else. It ensures you are kept informed by NRC).

GE Free Northland action alert- further submissions needed in response to the Northland Regional Council proposed Regional Plan

Conservation minister opposes GM-rodent plan

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11952990

CONSERVATION MINISTER OPPOSES GM-RODENT PLAN

5 December 2017 NZ HERALD

 

A group of conservationists and scientists with US military funding eyeing up New Zealand islands for gene testing have been given the elbow by Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage.

NZ Herald investigation has found the group - called Gbird - was considering how New Zealand islands would fit with US$6.5 million of US military funding.

As it did so, Gbird formed links throughout conservation and pest control networks in its push to get support for research on new gene drive technology.

Sage - a Green Party minister - said there would be serious risk to New Zealand's environmental reputation if there were field trials here using gene technology.

new National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry, fight won against 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).

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