Consultation on GMO Regulation in Northland.
Zelka Grammer of GE FREE Northland has sent in this message to alert residents of Northland to the imminent consultation on GE Organism releases in our Region. The edited text appears below.
"No doubt you have heard the great news about GE FREE NZ's (and subsidiary groups like GE FREE NORTHLAND) win in the High Court against ERMA and AgResearch. This High Court decision has stopped AgResearch for now and gives credence to the important work the Inter Council Working Party on GMO Risk Evaluation & Options is doing in Auckland/Northland peninsula (which our local GE FREE group, NCB and F & B branches are supporting with submissions to NRC draft LTCCP 2009/19 etc) Please be alert to the imminent collaborative GE community consultation in the Auckland/Northland area (including a telephone poll).
BACKGROUND:
The Far North District Council, Auckland Regional Council and most of the territorial authorities north of Auckland right up to Cape Reinga are planning to carry out collaborative community consultation on Genetically Modified Organisms. We understand that Colmar Brunton has been commissioned to conduct a telephone survey during the month of July to ratepayers and residents to get their opinions on GMOs. They will be asking in particular whether ratepayers are satisfied with current national regulation by central government agencies ERMA and MAF (under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996) or whether people would like local councils to regulate GMOs in some way.
Survey participants who advocate regulation of GMO land use by local councils will further be asked their opinion on regulation of GMOs versus outright prohibition. Please be aware of the possibility of getting such a phone call so that you can engage constructively. This is important because the results could be used to justify a pro-or anti-GE stance by councils in the North. It is important that respondents know that both ERMA and MAF/Biosecurity NZ have been performing appalling badly in recent years, including the recent High Court decision which found that ERMA was not only making serious errors of judgement but also in breach of the law (HSNO Act). There will also be a submission process that you can participate in, but this will be after the telephone poll.
Cheers,
Zelka Grammer
Spokesperson, GE FREE NORTHLAND
Committee member, Northern branch F & B
Coordinator, Maungakaramea Landcare Group
Member, RWNZ
And from RURAL WOMEN NZ's Rural Women Alive! RWNZ E-newsletter #87 10 June 2009
Risks of GMO Land Use
Auckland and Northland communities are having an opportunity to air their views on genetic engineering (GE) and how Auckland and Northland councils should deal with field trials and/or commercial releases of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Seven councils on the Inter Council Working Party on GMO Risk Evaluation and Management Options will engage in community consultation including a telephone poll to gauge public opinion.
Chairperson Dr Kerry Grundy said two major reports commissioned by the Working Party have identified a range of risks involved with trialling and releasing GMOs, including environmental, socio-cultural risks and economic risks.
For further information contact Dr Kerry Grundy, Whangarei District Council on (09) 430 4200 (during council hours) or
Freephone 0800 WDC INFO or 0800 932 463
Whangarei District Council (09) 430 3510 or
email: kerryg@wdc.govt.nz
see also:
www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10577098 Ban on GE imports welcomed NZ HERALD 8 June 09
www.arc.govt.nz/index.cfm?58A620FD-14C2-3D2D-B9CA-EA5858882785&objUUID=CC6AA3DF-14C2-3D2D-B9F8-AE9F33575DBB 11 June 2009: Auckland Regional Council Media release High Court ruling gives nod to ARC's cautious take on GMOs A High Court ruling overturning the government's Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) decision to accept GMO applications from AgResearch is applauded by the Auckland Regional Council (ARC).
