Kia ora koutou!
Vernal greetings from GE Free Tai Tokerau :)
Please help us halt the controversial and dangerous Gene Technology Bill (we have done well in stalling the Bill, thanks to all the mahi including nearly 15,000 submissions in opposition) but let's ensure the Bill is removed in its entirety after the Election.
If you're not a member of GE Free Tai Tokerau already, please do join us- as the battle against the Gene Technology Bill, as well as the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Amendment Bill is time consuming and costly. Thank you!
Individual memberships: $25 Family: $40 Business: $100
KAIPARA DISTRICT COUNCIL
Proposed new District Plan
There will also be hearings this December /January with an urgent need for GE Free Northland to lead the process of ensuring that KDC puts into the new District Plan the precautionary and prohibitive GE/GMO provisions, policies, and rules that KDC itself proposed- and then subsequently removed, despite overwhelming support from Kaipara residents and the wider region.
This way Kaipara will join all the rest of Northland and Auckland rohe in having precautionary and prohibitive GE/GMO provisions, policies, and rules in the KDC District Plan. These complement the excellent precautionary and prohibitive GE/GMO free policies for various Tai Tokerau Iwi/hapu for their respective rohe, helping to protect our biosecurity, wider environment, existing GM free farmers/ primary producers/ home gardeners/ seed savers, cultural values, and growing organic sector / Hua Parakore.
Please donate as generously as you can to help cover costs for the KDC GE/GMO hearings, including legal submissions, robust Evidence, and petrol costs to get Chair Zelka to the hearings (Dargaville and Maungataroto).
GE Free NZ Northland
Direct credit to ANZ Kerikeri
Account name: FREE Northland. Account number: 01 0382 0009202 00
https://web.gefreenorthland.org.nz/
Thank you! Together we are stronger
Cheers :)
Zelka Grammer & Marty Robinson
GE Free Northland (in food & environment)
**
GE/GMO update from Zelka Linda Grammer, chair
GE Free NZ Northland
The Gene Technology Bill never made it to its 2nd reading, due to widespread opposition and Coalition partner NZ First joining the Labour party, the Greens, and Te Pati Maori in opposing this dangerous Bill.
NZ First leader Hon Winston Peters and his team come out against Gene Technology Bill
www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/577771/nz-first-leader-winston-peters-will-not-support-gene-technology-bill-unless-it-s-fixed
www.farmersweekly.co.nz/politics/winston-peters-will-not-support-gene-technology-bill-unless-its-fixed/
GE Free Northland
3 November 2025 media release
RECKLESS GENE TECH BILL THREATENS NORTHLAND AND AUCKLAND'S GM FREE FOOD PRODUCER REGION"
https://web.gefreenorthland.org.nz/press-releases/reckless-gene-tech-bill-threatens-northland-and-aucklands-gm-free-food-producer-region
Here's a quote from the Green Party last year (carried on Radio NZ) for your interest:
13 October 2025
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/politics/575797/nz-first-to-withhold-support-for-gene-tech-bill-unless-major-changes-are-made
"In their lengthy differing view, the Greens said the bill seemed to be a "radical liberalisation and deregulation of GM technology in New Zealand and removal of appropriate protections for the environment including the right of food producers to be free from novel genetic contamination".
Key concerns included a lack of strategies for protecting farmers from the spread of genetically modified organisms and the ability to claim being GMO free, the absence of economic impact analysis, limited consultation, a shift away from a precautionary approach, no consideration of ethics, and limited decision-making powers for the Māori advisory committee."
ENDS