Zelka Grammer: North resistance to GMOs in danger

Zelka Grammer.

Whangarei District councillors recently voted unanimously to protect our community and local economy from the risks of outdoor uses of genetic engineering.

The Far North voted with equal conviction a week earlier to introduce similar rules into its District Plan.

These actions constitute a huge win for Northland, and our elected representatives deserve praise for their tenacity and their commitment to realise the aspirations of their constituents.

For 12 years, our councils have worked collaboratively with the Auckland and Northland Regional councils to plot a path that works best for our communities and environment.

The GM (genetic modification) policies they have now adopted are no hasty, knee-jerk reaction but are a sophisticated response following detailed review of the issues - yet the environment minister continues his odious attempt to quash our carefully considered policies.

In his campaign to overturn our democratically developed and fiscally prudent response, Nick Smith has tried unsuccessfully to cast local bodies as anti-science and anti-progress. His claims are untrue and denigrate our councils.

Northlanders have a huge appetite for innovation, but it must benefit our land, reflect our cultural aspirations, and provide economic benefits. We rightly want a say on technologies that pose unnecessary risks.

Despite the minister's shrill and factually incorrect statements, GM food is widely condemned in markets our local producers supply.

Market resistance to GMOs is deeply entrenched. Therefore, market-focused producers don't want GMOs near NZ fields and forests. It's also why economic opportunities for Northland growers involve supplying non-GM products, in keeping with our valuable "Northland, Naturally" brand.

Recently, the minister has attempted to generate a storm of political condemnation against the regions by focusing on GM medicines. To be clear: GE medical research in the laboratory is NOT subject to Whangarei or Far North plans prohibiting GM releases.

Northlanders will have the same access to such medicines as other New Zealanders.

It is now over to Parliament to ensure the minister does not get his way.

Members of Parliament will need to step up soon, because the minister wants to change the Resource Management Act to do the job. Unable to get support from his parliamentary colleagues to extinguish the regions' ability to control GMOs, Smith is attempting a backdoor route to eradicate GM-Free zones. He seeks sweeping new powers over the regions, set out in s360D of the National Party's RMA "reform" bill.

The pretext for the powers is that councils' rules duplicate Wellington's. The Environment Court disagreed, and the High Court has affirmed its decision.

The ministry's officials also disagreed and admitted to Hastings District Council that the regions cannot create GM-Free zones under the national legislation. That is only possible under the RMA. In short, there is no duplication.

With the sweeping powers Smith seeks, the minister could overrule regional initiatives on lesser grounds than perceived duplication or even no grounds at all.

Our communities must now look to our local MPs, Kelvin Davis, Winston Peters and Shane Reti, to ensure the Government's unnecessary and deeply anti-democratic proposals do not become law.

To do otherwise would betray a majority of our citizens and the councillors who have represented us so well.

- Zelka Grammer is chairperson of GE Free Northland and its key researcher and lobbyist on the GE issue.