2 November 2018 Media release
"Staying ahead of the pack & protecting our valuable "Northland, naturally" brand-Northland communities urge NRC to protect the region's valuable GE
free status"
More than one hundred submissions (lodged in response to the Northland Regional Council's proposed new Regional Plan)
strongly backed alignment with Auckland and Northland District Council plans that already contain provisions and
policies seeking to protect the Northern peninsula's valuable GE-Free status.
At the 2 day Whangarei hearing that took place earlier this week, the NRC was urged by all submittors (other than one)
to include strong precautionary and prohibitive GMO provisions into the new Regional Plan and give effect to the
precautionary GMO policy direction of the operative "Regional Policy Statement" (1).
Whangarei and Far North District Councils, GE-Free Northland, Tai Tokerau mana whenua, Physicians & Scientists for Responsible Genetics, the Auckland GE Free Coalition, the Soil & Health Association, local businesses and many farmers, growers and other ratepayers sought similar relief, providing
compelling evidence to the NRC (including that of Expert Witnesses) in support of a precautionary and prohibitive
approach to the risks of outdoor use of GE/GMOs. Such an approach is necessary given the risks of GMOs to our
biosecurity, unique biodiversity, existing GE free primary producers and their valuable enterprises, our economy, food
sovereignty, and the public health.
Expert witnesses included Professor Jack Heinemann, economist Dr. John Small, marine biologist Dr. Shaw Mead, and Dr
Benjamin Pittman who spoke separately on various environmental, economic, risk management, and other issues. Dr. Pittman
provided detailed Evidence regarding the cultural values of Tai Tokerau mana whenua and the ban already in place by Tai
Tokerau Iwi authorities for their respective rohe (Bombay hills north to Cape Reinga) since November 2012.
Dr. Mead provided details of the risks of outdoor GE experiments and field trials on land to waterways and the Coastal
Marine Environment, stressing the importance of integrated management of the total region, including on a catchment
level, as any GM pollution from the land would be highly likely to contaminate soils, waterways, air quality and the
ocean.
Farmers, foresters, horticulturists and beekeepers spoke about their concerns about likely adverse environmental impacts
of GMOs and economic harm to their valuable existing GE free enterprises. As documented overseas, outdoor use of
GE/GMO's has increased the use of herbicides, has failed to deliver on promises to elevate crop yields, has led to
contamination of seeds, soils, and waterways, has created invasive herbicide resistant "super weeds" and resulted in
numerous lawsuits (where those contaminated are subjected to legal action by multinationals or companies with
proprietary rights on GE seeds).
Federated Farmers of NZ was the only further submitter, opposing all the other submissions lodged on the GMO issue,
requesting that they be "disallowed". FFNZ continues to oppose the good work of local councils to create a much needed
tier of local protection against the risks of outdoor use of GE/GMOs, despite serious deficiencies in the national
regulation under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act.
Deficiencies in HSNO (as identified by Local Government NZ and many councils) include inadequate liability provisions
and no mandatory requirement for the EPA to take a precautionary approach to outdoor GE/GMO applications.
"We thank Whangarei and Far North District Councils and all those who helped make such a compelling case to our local
Regional Council, by providing planning, scientific and other evidence of the potentially irreversible adverse impact of
outdoor GE experiments or releases in the northern Isthmus. We urge the NRC to act on its duty of care to its
constituents and obligation to manage natural and finite resources in a truly sustainable manner, in keeping with the
relevant sections of the Resource Management Act (RMA)," said Martin Robinson, spokesman GE Free Northland.
"We acknowledge the work of WDC, FNDC and Auckland Council, who have taken action on a local level to protect ratepayers
and the environment already. They understand the economic opportunities for local primary producers, including in the
Coastal Marine Area, of a GE free region, and how crippling GM contamination could be for our high-value food and
forestry producers. We note that both global certification bodies (FSC and PEFC) do not allow any GE/GMO trees in
certified forests (2)***, due to the serious ecological risks, market aversion, and their adherence to the precautionary
principle," said Robinson.
"Northland region's valuable agricultural, horticultural, apiculture and forestry sector (and "Northland, naturally")
brand must be protected. Our community group would like to see strong precautionary and prohibitive GE/GMO provisions,
policies, and objectives in the new Regional Plan for both land and the Coastal Marine Area. Our valuable enterprises,
access to key markets and premiums must be protected from the risks of outdoor use of GMOs. Some of the world's most
celebrated food regions- Tuscany, Provence, Bordeaux- are official GM Free Zones. That's the club we want to be part of
and Northland is well placed geographically to achieve this distinction," said Zelka Grammer, chairperson, GE Free
Northland.
ends