Northland

CROWN ENTITY 'COWBOYS' IRK GE OPPONENTS

Posted Thu, 26/08/2010 - 17:34

 

 

 

www.northernadvocate.co.nz/local/news/crown-entity-cowboys-irk-ge-opponents/3920084/

Crown entity 'cowboys' irk GE opponents

NORTHERN ADVOCATE

by

Lindy Laird Monday 23rd August 2010

A spokesperson for GE Free Northland says state-owned "cowboys" with a bad track record are trying to ride roughshod over a Northland council.

Zelka Grammer has voiced her concerns after the crown research institute Plant and Food Research lodged an "11th hour" cross-submission to the Kaipara District Council's District Plan.

Plant and Food's submission argued that a district council should not be involved in decision-making about GE.

It also described as "invalid" the local submissions calling for GE policy to be written into the district plan.

Plant and Food's timing gave parties who had made submissions on the topic no time to lodge cross submissions.

Local submissions asked for the existing precautionary GE policy be set in law, and for liability for any problems caused by GE experiments to fall on the applicants. Kaipara's precautionary GE policy is already in the council's 2009/19 Long Term Council Community Plan (TCCP) and Annual Plan 2010/ll.

Ms Grammer said Plant and Food's last-minute cross submission was both inappropriate and misleading.

"A New Zealand crown research institute with such an appalling track record of botched GE experiments should understand full well why local authorities are considering putting in place additional safeguards against genetically modified organisms," she said.

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NORTHERN COUNCILS AGREE TO "LAST DITCH" EFFORT TO HAVE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT FIX FLAWED GE LEGISLATION

Posted Thu, 01/04/2010 - 10:48

GE FREE NORTHLAND

Press Release 1 April 2010

NORTHERN COUNCILS AGREE TO "LAST DITCH" EFFORT TO HAVE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT FIX FLAWED GE LEGISLATION

 

GE FREE Northland welcomes the news that Northland Regional Council (NRC) and Far North District Council (FNDC) have voted to join the other member councils of the "Inter Council Working Party on GMO Risk Evaluation & Options" in making a last ditch effort this year to further lobby central government to amend the flaws in the HSNO Act.

The vote took place at the last full council meeting of FNDC (25 March) and the 17 March 2010 meeting of the NRC Environment Management Committee.

The NRC vote was unanimous, gaining the support not of only councillors but of a cross-section of interested parties from Northland.

"This is a timely decision. We await only Auckland Regional Councils decision on April 20 this year," said GE FREE NORTHLAND Chairman Martin Robinson.

The Court of Appeal has overturned last year’s High Court decision against AgResearch, which wants conditional release of transgenic animals in undisclosed locations in the North Island.

"It is all the more critical that local councils do everything they can to get much needed changes into the HSNO Act. This includes a truly strict liability regime," said Mr Robinson.

The Chairman of the NRC Environmental Management committee, Cr Craig Brown has voiced his concerns.

"While I’m very pleased with the NRC’s decision, I am of the opinion that if this persistent lobbying of central government continues to be unsuccessful in persuading government to take the appropriate action… that the regional council and territorial authorities of Northland need to put strong precautionary measures in their District Plans, the Regional Plan and RPS."

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GMO's SEEN AS RISKY BUSINESS- MAKE USERS LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE: POLL

Posted Thu, 04/02/2010 - 11:34

The Northland Age Thursday, 28 January 2010

GMOs seen as a risky business -  Make users legally responsible: poll

 The majority of Northlanders and Aucklanders want strict controls over any genetically-modified (GM) plants and animals grown in their areas, according to a Colmar Brunton poll conducted late last year.

 The poll, commissioned by the Inter-Council Working Party on GMO Risk Evaluation and Management Options, found that two-thirds or more of respondents favoured regulation of at least a strength that would make users of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) legally responsible for any environmental or economic harm, either by way of local regulation or changes to national legislation.

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GE Free Northland celebratory "do" at Pararua Bay Tavern- Sunday, 28 February 2010

Posted Thu, 04/02/2010 - 11:08

The results of the Colmar Brunton GE poll are out- the vast majority of
Northlanders are with us in opposing GMO land use on our patch.

Come party and celebrate all the hard work and victories we have achieved.

Sunday, 28th February 2010
GE FREE NORTHLAND Celebration at Parua Bay Tavern (3pm-8pm)

featuring Guest artist
BIG BELLY WOMAN (Hokaianga reggae sounz)
www.bigbellywoman.com/
Big Belly Woman for a Positive Future and Global Unity

Surprise Local talent -  Sink and Swim,
including: David & Claudia Meredith

Kids entertainment:  Louis the Circus entertainer, face painting
plus:
Organic sausage sizzle
Delicious GE free food
available at the Parua Bay Tavern

Tickets available from:
Musicor- Cameron Street Mall
Putiputi Ra Organics- 79 Walton Street

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Big 'no' for GM food

Posted Mon, 18/01/2010 - 15:26

letters to editor:

editor@northernadvocate.co.nz

******p. 6, Friday, 15th January 2010 RURAL ADVOCATE

"Big 'no' for GM food"

by Zelka Grammer, spokesperson

GE Free Northland

The results of a Colmar Brunton poll, commissioned by local authorities from Auckland north to Cape Reinga because of growing concerns of about genetically modified organisms (GMOs), was released just before Christmas.

The poll was remarkably consistent, showing significant opposition to GMO land use from both rural and urban dwellers.

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COUNCILS TAKE ACTION AFTER POLL REVEALS GE CONCERN

Posted Mon, 21/12/2009 - 22:06

"Councils take action after poll reveals GE concern"                                                              21 December 2009 NORTHERN ADVOCATE by Mike Barrington

Whangarei and Kaipara District councils have begun moves to tighten controls on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Both last week adopted recommendations from the Inter-council Working Party on GMO Risk Evaluation and Management Options, which commissioned a Colmar Brunton poll that showed most Northlanders were concerned about the risks associated with genetically modified plants and animals.

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PUBLIC GIVE "THUMBS UP" FOR BAN ON GMO's

Posted Sat, 12/12/2009 - 10:27
Public Give "Thumbs Up'"for Ban on GMO's
 
Most people across the Auckland and Northland region want companies using Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) to be held strictly liable for damage, and in some areas most want a ban.
 
A poll conducted by a multi-council working group on regulation of GM organisms found that all communities strongly favour making users of GMOs legally responsible for any economic or environmental harm that may result.
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INGHAMS SLAPPED FOR TV ADVERTS

Posted Sat, 28/11/2009 - 08:58

www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/northland/local-news/bay-chronicle/3095066/Inghams-slapped-for-TV-adverts

Inghams slapped for TV adverts

The Bay Chronicle , Northland

Last updated 26/11/2009

NORTHLAND/NZ ALERT: Zelka Grammer who questioned the claims.Relevant offers

 

Claiming to be GM-free might have worked for poultry producer Inghams if GE Free Northland spokeswoman Zelka Grammer hadn’t been alert and persistent.

Inghams last week received a warning from the Commerce Commission that it risked breaching the Fair Trading Act by claiming that its chickens contained no genetically modified content.

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GE TELEPHONE POLL IN AUCKLAND AND NORTHLAND

Posted Sat, 15/08/2009 - 20:33

GE TELEPHONE POLL IN AUCKLAND AND NORTHLAND PENINSULA (COLMAR BRUNTON)

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