GE Free
 


GE Free Northland

( In food and environment )

- for our sustainable future -
 

GE Free Aotearoa
   

PUBLIC APPEAL FOR FUNDS

GE Free Northland has driven the campaign in Northland to get our local authorities to act
to protect ratepayers and the environment from GMO land use and to keep our food GE free.
GE Free Northland's campaign has forced central government to admit that
YOU will pay to clean up GMO disasters, not the polluters.
District and Regional councils from Auckland to the north are now with us.
We ask for your support so that we can continue to do the work we do.
We have incurred significant legal costs to date, and we are seeking donations.
Thank you for your support.
Cheques made out to: GE FREE NORTHLAND
Postal address: Secretary, GE FREE NORTHLAND, PO Box 1439, Whangarei, Northland
More information: email: zlg@xnet.co.nz
Tel. (Whangarei) 09 432 2155
Tel. (Kerikeri) 09 407 8650
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Other Stories
· HIGH COURT RULING ON GMOs SHOWS THAT COUNCILS OF AUCKLAND/NORTHLAND PENINSULA HA (Jun 16, 2009)
· High Court ruling gives nod to ARC’s cautious take on GMOs (Jun 16, 2009)
· HIGH COURT GE DECISION A VICTORY FOR NEW ZEALANDERS (Jun 07, 2009)
· GM animal applications invalid – High Court appeal upheld (Jun 07, 2009)
· Federated Farmers of NZ praise GM free grass (Jun 05, 2009)
· LOCAL AUTHORITIES CONSULT RATEPAYERS ON GMO LAND USE (Apr 09, 2009)
· GMO Views To Be Aired (Apr 07, 2009)
· Stop acting like Muppets and cancel all GE trials (Mar 12, 2009)
· FAR NORTH DISTRICT COUNCIL JOINS OTHER LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN REGIONAL SURVEY REGA (Oct 09, 2008)
· FAR NORTH DISTRICT COUNCIL JOINS OTHER LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN REGIONAL SURVEY REG (Oct 09, 2008)
· Far North Joins Regional Survey on GMOs (Oct 07, 2008)
· Mayor backs ban on GMOs (Sep 14, 2008)
· Report exposes Government inaction over GE (Apr 17, 2008)
· Restore Moratorium: GE FailuresThreaten National Interest (Apr 17, 2008)
· Proposed release of GE vaccine will be protested - Greens (Mar 13, 2008)
· Demise of GE Sapling Trees. (Jan 18, 2008)
· Credibility of Food Safety Regulation takes a Significant Hit (Dec 29, 2007)
· Pamela Peters (Oct 10, 2007)
· Simon Bliss (Oct 10, 2007)
· Jimmy Daisley (Oct 10, 2007)
· Warren Slater (Oct 07, 2007)
· Vince Cocurullo (Oct 07, 2007)
· Don Hedges (Oct 07, 2007)
· Simon Vallings (Oct 07, 2007)
· Stan Semenoff (Oct 07, 2007)
· GE onus belongs with polluters, central Government (Jul 31, 2007)
· LOCAL AUTHORITIES EXPOSE FLAWS IN THE HSNO ACT WHICH MEANS THAT RESPONSIBILITY F (Jul 25, 2007)
· Responsiblity for GE clean ups would land on local government and local land own (Jul 24, 2007)
· Former Crop & Food Scientist says GE Brassica field test approval lacked scrutin (Jun 02, 2007)
· GE Brassica Approval Lacks Common Sense - But Nice Job For Some (Jun 01, 2007)

Press Releases: HIGH COURT RULING ON GMOs SHOWS THAT COUNCILS OF AUCKLAND/NORTHLAND PENINSULA HA
Posted by: Zelka on Jun 16, 2009 - 09:43 PM
Press Releases see
http://scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0906/S00187.htm

GE FREE NORTHLAND Press Release
15 June 2009

HIGH COURT RULING ON GMOs SHOWS THAT COUNCILS OF AUCKLAND/NORTHLAND PENINSULA HAVE GOT IT RIGHT _____________________________________________________________________

GE FREE NORTHLAND applauds a High Court ruling that has overturned ERMA's (Environmental Risk Management Authority) decision to accept applications from AgResearch to release GM animals throughout New Zealand.

The Auckland Regional Council's (ARC) elected representative on the Inter Council Working Party on GMO Risk Evaluation & Options, Cr Brent Morrissey, said in the ARC's 11 June 2009 Press Release
"no lesser body than New Zealand's own High Court has made it clear that central government, through ERMA, has been remiss in its acceptance of these GMO applications from AgResearch."

GE FREE NORTHLAND's Chairperson Marty Robinson commented that "we cannot rely on central government agencies like ERMA and MAF/Biosecurity NZ. This was shown by the recent High Court finding that the ERMA failed in implementing the law in accepting and processing four applications from AgResearch for a wide ranging conditional release of transgenic animals."

“It is heartening news that the concerns of New Zealanders about the broad and indefinite nature of these GE applications have been upheld by the judge. A recent Colmar Brunton poll showed 70% opposition to the genetic engineering of animals," said Mr. Robinson.

Dr. Kerry Grundy, Chairperson of the Inter Council Working Party on GMOs, said last week that:

"It is of serious concern that ERMA has been found in error under law by the High Court in processing these applications, especially given that some of these transgenic animals could have ended up in the Northland/Auckland region.

"This decision tends to justify, and lend credence to, the work that the ICWP on GMOs is undertaking on behalf of ratepayers and primary producers in the Northland/Auckland region."

Craig Brown, Chairman of the Northland Regional Council Environment Committee, notes: "This is a further instance of those in the position to do a proper job to safeguard us are failing in their duty of care. This incident adds to the growing disquiet of the average person and reinforces the need for all local councils to work collaboratively together to protect our environment and unique biodiversity."

Cr. Brown supports the imminent collaborative GE community consultation as the first step in investigating local regulation of land use for GMOs. This consultation will be undertaken by all the councils from Auckland Regional Council north to Cape Reinga.

"This is a classic example, if ever one was needed, of how local councils take the lead in representing the views of New Zealanders and can best protect their interests."

Cr Brown is urging his colleagues at the Northland Regional Council to join with the ARC and several other territorial authorities in the undertaking of this necessary and innovative work. This would be in keeping with the NRC's adopted precautionary policy on GMOs.

GE FREE NORTHLAND shares the concerns of Local Government NZ and local authorities about the significant deficiencies in the national regulatory regime for GMOs. "We would like to see either GMO land use prohibited in Northland/Auckland peninsula or the moratorium on GE field trials/releases reinstated," said its spokesperson Zelka Grammer.

Despite many of the Northland/Auckland peninsula councils having excellent precautionary or prohibitive policies in their adopted LTCCP's, under the HSNO Act, ERMA is not required to take heed of these policies. So far, ERMA has ignored them.

"In our view, strong "rules with teeth" regarding GMO land use are needed in the District Plan, Regional Plan and/or Regional Policy Statement to ensure our region retains the economic and environmental advantage of being GE free," said Ms. Grammer.

"We stress that the Northland/Auckland peninsula is ideally placed geographically to achieve this distinction, which would minimise the economic, environmental, public health and liability exposures from GE release and experiments."

ENDS


Contact: Martin Robinson, Chairperson 09 407 8650 Kerikeri
Zelka Grammer, Spokesperson 09 4322155 Whangarei
GE FREE NORTHLAND (in Food & Environment)
www.gefreenorthland.org.nz


*see Auckland Regional Council's ll June 2009 Press Release
www.arc.govt.nz/index.cfm?58A620FD-14C2-3D2D-B9CA-EA5858882785&objUUID=CC6AA3DF-14C2-3D2D-B9F8-AE9F33575DBB
 
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