A visionary vote
Huge accolades for the Far North District Council, which on May 23 voted in principle to join the Whangarei District Council and likely the Auckland Council to make a district plan change to ban all commercial releases of GMOs and make field trials discretionary, subject to conditions that can include large bonds, strict liability and containment provisions.
With all the Northland district and Auckland councils on board, this would create a regional exclusion zone from Auckland north.
The action taken by the FNDC is sensible and precautionary. It also reinforces that the stance taken by the Northland Regional Council, that the issue is not one of regional significance, is looking increasingly ridiculous. It is a very relevant issue, as currently in the Bay of Plenty there are GMO field trials taking place that in the past have breached their containment conditions. These trials are taking place in spite of the fact that the local councils have submitted against them at the EPA approval stage.
Thank you FNDC for your visionary and courageous vote in the face of a central government that, through trade agreements, is beholden to foreign corporate pressure. Primary producers, the community at large and future generations will thank you for it.
