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Pure Hawke’s Bay chairman Bruno Chambers
says it’s an exciting end to many years of
unnecessary legal challenges against the GM free
status, which will give the region a competitive
advantage to market high-end agricultural
products internationally. The sheep and beef
farmer says the group has worked for seven years
to attain what many areas around the world can
boast. “Finally we can join them rather than being
left in their wake.” Hastings District Council was
the first in New Zealand to adopt rules in the local
plan to prohibit GM field trials and releases in the
district. Chambers says the council understands
the economic opportunities and how crippling GM
contamination can be for food producers. “It is a
huge pity that Federated Farmers put the council,
our farmers and our growers to such needless
expense, but we are now focused on how to
make this opportunity work for all farmers.” The
region’s GM Free status was also put under threat
last year by a proposed change to the Resource
Management Act, but huge commitment from
producers and Ngati Kahungunu has won the
battle, he says. One of New Zealand’s largest
growers and exporters and member of Pure
Hawke’s Bay John Bostock says the win is
huge for everyone in Hawke’s Bay. “Some of the
world’s most celebrated food regions – Tuscany,
Provence, Bordeaux – are officially GM Free.
That’s the club we want to be part of,” Bostock
says. “This is an opportunity to promote Hawke’s
Bay internationally with real credibility. Hawke’s
Bay is the Tuscany of New Zealand and now we
can promote ourselves on par - as a premium
growing region. We have one of the most pure,
fertile growing areas in the world and some of the
most valuable agricultural land in New Zealand.
We can produce top quality food products – so
we need to play to this strength and embrace our
GM Free status. Hawke’s Bay is leading the way
for the rest of the country.” Overseas demand for
GM free products keeps growing, Bostock says,
and Hastings’ position creates real opportunities
in competitive high-end markets. Hastings mayor
Sandra Hazelhurst says securing Hastings’
valuable GM Free status in law will help grow
the local economy. “Being GMO Free has huge
benefits to help grow our regional economies,
create more jobs, ensure safe farming practices
and food safety.” Hastings is not the only council
to be taking this path. Auckland City, Whangarei
and the Far North together now make up a large
official GM Free region, after more than a decade
of planning and community consultation.
GM FREE FOR
HAWKE’S BAY
Hawke’s Bay growers, exporters and farmers backing the GM Free
plan rules adopted by the Hastings District Council three years ago
are elated that Federated Farmers has formally abandoned its legal
attempt to overturn the region’s decision.
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