GE/GMO provisions

This page has information about the hearings, council decision and appeals on provisions in the Proposed Regional Plan for Northland for managing the use of genetic engineering and genetically modified organisms (GE/GMO).

Appeals

Any person who made a submission on the Proposed Regional Plan for Northland can appeal the council’s decision. Friday 13 September 2019 was the last day for lodging appeals with the Environment Court on council’s decision to not include provisions for the management of GMOs in the Proposed Regional Plan was. One appeal was received:

Whangarei District Council and Far North District Council GMO Appeal (PDF, 1.5MB)

Submitters and people that have an interest in the Environment Court proceedings have until 4 October 2019 to join appeals (in support or opposition).

Decision

On 16 July 2019, council considered whether to include provisions in the Proposed Regional Plan relating to genetically modified organisms. After lengthy deliberations the decision of council was not to include any provisions on the management of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) GMOs in its Proposed Regional Plan.

Read the Council Decision (PDF 136 KB) 

Reconvened hearings

The hearing was reconvened on 26 February to allow councillors to ask questions of the expert planners:

Expert planners’ response to councillor questions – GMO provisions (PDF 199 KB) 

Audio for reconvened hearings - This file is 67MB

Hearings schedule

Schedule for hearings held in Whangārei, 30 and 31 October 2018.

GE/GMO hearing schedule - as at 25 October 2018 (PDF 116 KB) 

Hearings evidence and written statements

Submitters have provided evidence and written statements for the hearings.

GE Submissions, hearings evidence and written statements and audio spreadsheet 

Section 42A Report

This report responds to submissions and describes any recommended changes to the Proposed Regional Plan. The report was prepared by Peter Reaburn (a consultant).

The following report is an addendum report to the S42A report.  It responds to evidence and written statements provided by submitters.

The hearings

Northland Regional Council councillors will hear and decide on the GE/GMO submissions. The chair is Bill Shepherd (Northland Regional Council Chairman).

Minutes

Minutes are issued to provide information to submitters and give directions about how the hearings will be run. These are the minutes relevant to the GE/GMO hearings.

Information provided in response to Minutes

Related information