Thursday 15 November
Another City goes GE-Free. Labour Party members embrace a vision for New Zealand business.
Waitakere City has voted to become GE FREE IN FIELD AND FOOD at a meeting of the Council on Wednesday14th.
GE- Free NZ is welcoming the decision by another major city to recognise the growing public support for a GE-Free food
and environment in Aotearoa/ New Zealand.
The decision was supported 12-1 in a formal vote and was backed by former President of the Labour Party -Mayor Bob
Harvey, Deputy Mayor Carolynne Stone and Cr. Penny Hulse. The only vote in opposition was from Cr. Vanessa Neeson (wife
of Brian Neeson, National Party M.P. for Waitakere).
"Clearly senior members of the Labour Party are aware of the vision for New Zealand that people are calling for but
which the government seems slow to embrace. The people are saying: of course responsible science is part of our future
but that does not mean the
government should release GM organisms, instead of science helping improve our clean, natural image" said a spokesperson
for the GE-Free NZ.
The National Party hiding from the issues?
"Opposition from the councillor with the strongest links to the National Party suggests National are hiding from the
issues and not dealing with the fact that support for a GE-Free New Zealand cuts across party-lines. Even the mother of
the National Party's
leader is reported to be supporting a GE-Free option. Bill English should hear the message and 'listen to his mum!’
The strong support for a GE-Free Zone reflects the scientific, cultural and economic concerns that explain why GE
applications outside containment represent a threat to New Zealand's future.
GE-Free makes economic sense.
The Council also voted in favour of establishing an "ORGANIC CLUSTER" of Organic enterprises in the City. " The economic
benefit from organics, and even conventional produce free of GE-contamination is undeniable. The proposal that all New
Zealanders must accept up to 1% GE contamination to enable GE crops to be released is unacceptable. The more places that
oppose that contamination by declaring a GE-Free Zone, the better."