1. New Zealand: Council moves to protect its community from GM organisms
2. Steps closer to a GMO ban
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1. Council Moves To Protect Its Community From GM Organisms
Scoop Politics (New Zealand)
Saturday, 16 April 2011
Press Release: GE Free Northland
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1104/S00219/council-moves-to-protect-its-community-from-gm-organisms.htm

Whangarei District Councillors have voted unanimously to reject the outdoor use of genetically engineered (GE) crops and animals in the District. Whangarei District Council will now actively seek to undertake a collaborative plan change with all Northland councils and Auckland Council to keep GMOs out of the wider region.

Well done WDC!

This historic rejection of GE crops, trees and animals reflects the concerns of communities about the lack of protection afforded by central government in relation to GMO land use and significant risks to the environment, economy and farmers.

"The move to protect Whangarei District's existing valuable GM free status GE in the Whangarei District Plan is a victory for common sense.

"Whangarei District Council must be congratulated on its leadership in the face of central government's ongoing failure to properly amend the flawed Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) legislation, despite years of lobbying by the member councils of the 'Inter Council Working Party on GMO Risk Evaluation & Management Options' and other local authorities", said Linda Grammer, spokesperson for GE FREE NORTHLAND.

"Communities, ratepayers and consumers have a basic right to protect their biosecurity, primary producers, economy and environment, and that is what the WDC decision supports."

Increasing documentation of adverse impacts of GE crops in the overseas countries who have allowed commercial GE primary production highlights increased environmental problems ranging from soil degradation, contamination of water supplies with GE toxins, ecosystem damage, as well as increasing insect and weed resistance to proprietary herbicides and pesticides.

Claims of benefits from GE crops have failed to eventuate, and careful scrutiny of conventional vs GE crop yields overseas shows that in the vast majority of cases GE crops do not increase yields. In fact, GE crops in general suffer from a significant yield drag.

NZ is in the business of producing the very best, safe, high quality food for the most discerning. Rejection of GE crops in New Zealand is due to the fact that our key markets and discerning customers will not tolerate even trace GE contamination in our products.

The failure of central government to protect and preserve the GE-Free choice for farmers and consumers is a threat to the economic and other benefits of New Zealand's GE-free, clean, green, natural reputation.
Local action by councils is a necessary response to central government actively undermining the 100% Pure NZ brand.

Whangarei District Council has put a stake in the ground for an investment in its GE-Free future. Risky commercial ventures with hazardous new technologies should not be foisted on communities, especially given the lack of strict liability.

Our thanks to Whangarei District Council who have, in conjunction with the Auckland/Northland "Working Party on GMO Risk Evaluation & Option" listened to the communities voice and made a historic decision with positive implications for all of NZ.
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2. Steps closer to a GMO ban
DENISE PIPER
Whangarei Leader (New Zealand)
19/04/2011
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/northland/whangarei-leader/4904334/Steps-closer-to-a-GMO-ban

Cheers and claps supported Whangarei district councillors as they made a move to ban genetically modified organisms in the district.

At an environment committee meeting last Wednesday councillors unanimously voted to investigate regulating GMOs through the district plan.

The regulation is likely to prohibit releases of GMOs to the environment and requiring resource consents for GE trials.

Whangarei is the first council to agree to regulation but it hopes it will be joined by other councils in Northland and Auckland who are part of the Inter-council Working Party on GMO Risk Evaluation and Management Options.
That would mean the costs can be shared. But councillor Crichton Christie says the council will go it alone if necessary.

"This has been eight years in the making. At the end of the day this is about managing the risk that this council has over genetic engineering it is not about whether you agree with GE or not," he says.

"It would be nice if the other councils came with us but if not we still have to manage the risk."

Environment Minister Nick Smith has confirmed the costs of environmental damage from a GMO release gone wrong could rest with the council and neighbouring property owners.

If the release is authorised by the Environmental Risk Management Authority, the applicant has no liability to pay for any damage.

Mr Christie says the community has told the council it wants GMOs prohibited.

"Seven thousand people put in a petition in this chamber the biggest submission this council has ever seen."

GE Free Northland secretary Anna Murphy says the council has shown great leadership.

Ms Murphy was one of the people who helped organise the 7000-signature petition against GMOs back in 2000.

She is not surprised at how long it's taken to get this far, with large enterprises being in favour of field trials.

"I'm not surprised because of the pressures from industry. I had hoped that this day would come but there are so many conflicting pressures you never know."

Councillor Sue Glen says councillors will continue pushing the cause. "I won't back down and I think you can hear the sense in this room that we won't back down and we will lead this country in one sense or another."