Genetic Engineering (GMO land use) has no place in QUALITY primary production
and puts our economy, key markets, environment and health at risk.

ACT's outdated GE policy ignores sound science and the risks

 



GE Free Tai Tokerau (in food & environment)
Panui    2 February 2024


"ACT's outdated GE policy ignores sound science and the risks"

https://web.gefreenorthland.org.nz/press-releases/ge-free-northland/00275-acts-outdated-ge-policy-ignores-sound-science-and-the-risks

The National and ACT party plan to weaken much needed regulation on GE is unscientific and outdated, putting farmers and our biosecurity at risk. 

Kaipara's tougher GE stance at risk, say campaigners

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/kaiparas-tougher-ge-stance-at-risk-of-being-diluted-campaigners-say/74675JQB7ZHAJNBD56U7SWG66I/

Kaipara’s tougher GE stance at risk of being diluted, campaigners say

 

By 
Local Democracy Reporter

 

GE Free Northland chairwoman Zelka Grammer wants councils to take a tough stance on genetic engineering. Photo / Susan Botting

 

Community urges Kaipara to remain GE-free

Submissions needed in response to Therapeutic Products Bill- deadline: 5 March 2023

There is an opportunity to make submissions in response to the Therapeutic Products Bill  (this governments 3rd go at pushing through controversial and undesirable changes in many ways)

Submissions are now being accepted, one day left
closing date: 5 March 2023 NZ time

 

Opportunity to make submissions in support of precautionary and prohibitive GE/GMO policies, provisions, rules in the Kaipara District Council draft District Plan

GE Free Northland action alert!

Great news and a great opportunity to make a submission (it's easy!) in response to the excellent precautionary and prohibitive GE/GMO policies in the recently released Kaipara District Council "Exposure draft" 

(you do not need to reside in Kaipara District to submit, as GE/GMO experiments/ field trials do not respect boundaries. Submissions from Whangarei, Far North and Auckland regions most welcome!)

Call for submissions on gene editing / gene drive (DOC/Toitū Te Whenua (Land Information NZ) public consultation

GE FREE NZ Tai Tokerau call to action!
Submissions are needed in response to DOC's/Toitū Te Whenua (Land Information NZ) controversial public consultation on gene editing/ CRISPR and other controversial and risky new genetic technologies, including "gene drive").
DOC's question:
“How can innovation in the way we use  emerging technologies and information help biodiversity thrive?"
Deadline: by 5pm tomorrow, Sunday 14 November 2021
See GE FREE NZ's easy submission guide (but don't forget to mention your opposition to gene editing of native taonga like manuka, kauri etc)

GE FREE NZ Media release 17 March 2021 "D'day for deregulation of gene edited organisms"

14/03/2021

March 17th: 'D-Day' for Deregulation of Gene Edited Organisms" (which are GMOs)

GE FREE NZ

 

GE Free Northland October/ November 2020 newsletter and AGM- Date: Thursday, 12 th November, at 6.30pm

Here it is- new GE Free Northland newsletter (October/ November 2020) edition. If you are already a member, please fill out the Membership Renewal form...new members and donations most welcome!

https://putiputira.weebly.com/gefreenorthlandnews

 

Notice of GE-Free Northland Annual General Meeting)
Date: Thursday, 12 th November, at 6.30pm
Venue: Ora Ora Retreat, 28 Landing Road, Kerikeri (next to Play Centre)
Here is a Zoom link for the event: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83865930465 no

password required.

All of Northern peninsula (land and sea) protected from GE/GMOs

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,

Protection from GMOs for Northland Growers and Exporters Welcomed

GE FREE NZ Media Release

13 August 2020

GE Free Northland (in food & environment) November 2020 PUBLIC APPEAL FOR FUNDS

GE Free Northland (in food & environment) November 2020
PUBLIC APPEAL FOR FUNDS
 
GE Free Northland became a s274 (interested) party in support of Whangarei District Council and Far North District Council's appeal against Northland Regional Council, due to the NRC's controversial 16 July 2019 GE/GMOs decision ( to exclude all precautionary and prohibitive GE/GMO provisions from the proposed new Regional Plan for Northland).  

Victory for GMO opposition: Northland Regional Council votes to reverse position

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=12340319

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. Photo / Michael Cunningham

By: Julia Czerwonatis
Reporter for the Northern Advocate

 

Northland regional councillors have voted to reverse a decision not to include provisions to manage genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the council's proposed Regional Plan.

The latest turn of events in what has been a lengthy and contentious debate has seen Northland Regional Council (NRC) decide at its meeting yesterday to change its position on GMO provisions.

The move was welcomed by GMO opponents who attended the meeting, labelling it a "victory".

One of about 10 protesters, Nora Shayeb from the Northland Toxin Awareness Group, said there were "millions of reasons" to oppose the use of GMO.

She linked GMOs to the increased use of pesticides, which she described as harmful to the environment and humans.

"Most of our waterways are poisoned. Water is one of our most basic needs, but our water is making people sick," Shayeb said.

Another opponent, Social Credit party president Gloria Bruni, said New Zealand had "the outstanding opportunity to mark ourselves as uniquely sustainable".

"We'll compromise this if we introduce GMO into the region."

Supporters of old 2019 GE/GMO decision by Northland Regional Council withdraw

item from the Northland Age, 16 June 2020, prior to the NRC 16 June 2020 GE/GMO excellent decision later that day

this item for background information:

 

The Northland Age

"Supporters of council GE decision withdraw"

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northland-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503402&objectid=12340197

 

The Northland Regional Council now stands alone in not supporting the inclusion of GMO provisions in its proposed regional plan.

The NZ Life Sciences Network, Biotech NZ and Federated Farmers have withdrawn from the Environment Court case prompted by appeals against the decision from the Far North and Whangārei District Councils.

The appeals seek the inclusion of provisions to manage genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) in the coastal marine area (CMA), which the council decided against last year, on the casting vote of then chairman Bill Shepherd.

The council will decide its next move today, the staff recommendation being to stick to its guns, strategic policy and planning manager Ben Lee saying that would not require a formal decision, given that that position was the status quo.

It was open to the council to change its position, he said, but a decision to do that should be based on sound resource management reasons. His recommendation was to maintain its decision not to include provisions in the plan, and that it actively defend that position in the Environment Court.

Lee's report stated that staff could not advise that the council should change its position, being constrained by the fact that their role was to defend its original decision.

Update: important GE/GMO decision made 16 June 2020 Northland Regional Council's full council meeting - excellent decision made!

Breaking news:

There was an important GE/GMO agenda item at the Northland Regional Council full council meeting (Tuesday 16 June 2020)

An excellent motion was passed, supporting precautionary and prohibitive GE/GMO provisions in the proposed new Regional Plan (in the Coastal Marine Area). Well done NRC!

An email to the NRC chair Penny Smart and Clrs Joce Yeoman, Jack Craw, Martin Robinson, Colin Toss Kitchen, Amy McDonald, Justin Blaikie thanking them for their vote would be very timely.

Contact details for all NRC clrs here (NRC Clrs Rick Stolwerk and John Bain voted for the status quo, which is disappointing. but they were in the minority :)

Background:

GE FREE Northland June/ July 2020 PUBLIC APPEAL FOR FUNDS

GE Free Northland (in food & environment) June / July 2020
PUBLIC APPEAL FOR FUNDS
 
GE Free Northland became a s274 (interested) party in support of Whangarei District Council and Far North District Council's appeal against Northland Regional Council, due to the NRC's controversial 16 July 2019 GE/GMOs decision ( to exclude all precautionary and prohibitive GE/GMO provisions from the proposed new Regional Plan for Northland).  

Submissions needed to Food Standards Australia NZ (FSANZ) against Monsanto application herbicide-tolerant corn line MON87429

Northland Regional Council to take "back seat" on GMO appeal

https://www.nrc.govt.nz/news/2020/january/council-to-take-back-seat-on-gmo-appeal-unlikely-to-call-evidence/

notice how NRC Clr Martin Robinson has ethically stood aside, given his conflict of interest (Martin is both a Regional councillor for Northern Coastal Ward and spokesperson GE Free Northland) but how former NRC Chairman Bill Shepherd did NOT stand aside last year when he was Chair of NRC when it came to the vote on GE/GMO issue... despite Mr. Shepherds conflict of interest as a Federated Farmers of NZ man

 

GE Free Northland February / March 2020 PUBLIC APPEAL FOR FUNDS

GE Free Northland (in food & environment) 

GE Free Northland seeks fighting funds

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northland-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503402&objectid=12260812

Northland Age

22 August 2019

by Peter Jackson

 

GE Free Northland is appealing for financial support for its legal challenge against the Northland Regional Council's decision to exclude precautionary and prohibitive GE/GMO provisions from its proposed regional plan.

"In our view the NRC has failed to make a sound decision on the GE/GMOs issue, despite the scientific, economic and cultural evidence presented by submitters supporting provisions to control the adverse effects of GMO use on the environment through the plan," chair Linda Grammer said.

"We will join the Whangārei District Council and Far North District Council in seeking relief in the Environment Court against the NRC.

"With help we can ensure strong precautionary and prohibitive GMO provisions are placed in the new regional plan.

 

Another Northland council joins appeal against NRC's controversial GMO decision

GE FREE Northland (in food & environment)

30 August 2019 Media Release

GE Free Northland PUBLIC APPEAL FOR FUNDS May/ June 2020

Whangārei council to appeal Northland Regional Council GMO policy

WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR PROTECTION AGAINST GE TRIGGERS LEGAL APPEAL

GE FREE Northland (in food & environment)

16 August 2019 Media Release

FDA findings undermine Royal Society Call for GE Deregulation

GE FREE NZ 14 August 2019 Media Release

https://press.gefree.org.nz/press/20190814.htm

 

GMO vote by Northland Regional Council chair challenged

Conservationists dispute genetic modification rule (by NRC) in Northland

Flawed Northland Regional Council decision bound for court


https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/article.cfm?c_id=16&objectid=12251870
 

23 July 2019

Northland Age

by editor Peter Jackson

 

"Flawed Northland Regional Council decision bound for court"

Northland Regional Council chairman Bill Shepherd's use of his casting vote to break a 4-4 deadlock over the issue of whether or not to include provisions for the management of genetically modified organisms in the council's proposed regional plan has outraged critics of the technology, who have vowed to fight it in court.

Northland Regional Council's GMO decision and process met with outrage

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/article.cfm?c_id=16&objectid=12251776

23 July 2019 Northern Advocate article

"Northland Regional Council's GMO decision and process met with outrage"

by reporter Lindy Laird

 

Environmental groups and individuals have been scathing about the regional council turning its back on provisions that would prohibit genetically modified organisms being trialled in or introduced to Northland.

At its general meeting last Tuesday, a casting vote by chairman Bill Shepherd narrowly tipped the vote against a GMO precautionary approach being stipulated in the new Northland Regional Plan.

Critics, including at least one NRC member, say the decision was based on processes which were ''flawed'', ''hard to justify'', ''a betrayal'' and ''undemocratic''.

It also puts Northland out of sync with the anti-GMO policies of the Far North and Whangārei District Councils and the super-sized unitary Auckland Council. Small, in-recovery Kaipara District Council has not yet formed a GMO policy.

NRC Clr Mike Finlayson expose: Northland Regional Council hi-jacked by Federated Farmers

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northland-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503402&objectid=12250571&fbclid=IwAR2DVMJRMhBdWUT-HUlx-aw0ghpxzbh8Seq0E_rsbJdtCZ   

 

Cr Mike Finlayson: Hijacked by Federated Farmers- 18 July 2019 Northland Age

 

Many Northlanders share serious concerns over letting loose genetically engineered (GE) organisms into our natural environment. Possums, stoats and wild ginger are but of a few of the 'bright ideas' that have had disastrous consequences. On Tuesday our council voted to let this happen in Northland. I was shocked and dismayed.

"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.

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