Soil & Health Association of New Zealand (Est. 1941)
Publishers of ORGANIC NZ
Vision of NZ As World's First Sustainable Nation
The Soil & Health Association congratulates Prime Minister Helen Clark for the vision of New Zealand being the world's first truly
sustainable nation.
Yesterday at the Labour Party Conference the Prime Minister asked, "Why shouldn't New Zealand aim to be the first
country which is truly sustainable I believe that sustainability will be a core value in 21st century social democracy.
I want New Zealand to be in the vanguard of making it happen - for our own sakes, and for the sake of our planet.
I want sustainability to be central to New Zealand's unique national identity."
"This is the most important and exciting statement for New Zealand's future for some time from that level," said Steffan
Browning, Soil & Health spokesperson, "New Zealanders will welcome a vision of a truly clean green country."
This significant vision fits with the Soil & Health vision of an Organic 2020, where by the year 2020 most of New Zealand's production is certified organic and the
remainder is in conversion to organic.
With milestones towards an Organic 2020 being difficult to achieve until recently, such vision from the Prime Minister
is encouraging. It comes on the back of last year's Government funding support for sector group Organics Aotearoa New
Zealand, and the Green Party initiated funding for an Organics Advisory Service.
"Organic milestones will be more easily attained with a sustainability vision coming from the Prime Minister," said Mr
Browning.
"Organic production leads the way in sustainable methods of primary production, and a visionary Prime Minister will
hopefully do all in her power to ensure the organic sector, as a vanguard of sustainability, can maintain its
development into the future."
Prime Minister Helen Clark finished, "Our country is special, and our people are special." Soil & Health would add its motto 'Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, Healthy People."
Ends