LATEST News !!!!!!
New Non - GM corn hybrid could benefit farmers (15/1/2012)
"This is a welcome development, the corn has good yields and if grown organically has no chemicals. This is in stark contrast to GE grown crops that have unstable yields and are laden with insecticidal toxins and heavily sprayed with herbicides that affect reproduction and the endocrine system" ...more
NZ Food Authority being used by big US Biotech Company (9/1/2012)
There are concerns that the NZ Food regulator FSANZ, is being manipulated by a Chemical company to gain US governmental approval for new GE crops designed to survive their proprietary herbicide 2,4-D. "The Trans Tasman body [FSANZ] rubber stamped the toxic chemical laden foods with no recognised safety tests" ...more
China Symposium on GMO technology and Human Security (14/12/2011)
Speakers from diffiernt countries reported similar findings of Consumer rejection of GM food, poor crop performance and health issues. "Seeing such a strong concern for food safety for people and farmers was refreshing " ...more
MAdGE "copy in" Minister to trace and label GM Food 5/12/2011
New Zealand's Minister of Health would be doing the right thing for Public Health and the integrity of the food system by voting for the labelling of GM food, when she attends the trans-Tasman meeting this Friday...more
New Zealand must support US consumers on GM labelling 24/11/2011
"Testing, traceability and labelling is in the interests of food safety globally" says Jon Carapiet ...more
Government Research Agenda goes against New Zealand Brand 21/11/2011
"The proposed research is not aimed at promoting ethical and contained biotechnology research, but at promoting more new and modified organisms, including Genetically engineered organisms, in the open environment" said Jon Carapiet spokesperson of GE Free NZ...more
Ministers backing of '2,4-D' corn not good for Public Health 16/11/2011
"The Minister referred to the FSANZ final report which is littered with flaws and misleading commentary" said Claire Bleakley, president of GE free NZ "The report cannot justify any assumption that this food is safe. The product needs to be sent back for comprehensive long term studies looking into the effects of its chemical residues and metabolites on animals and humans"...more
Keep GE out of our FOOD and ENVIRONMENT in NZ,
Spread the word, tell your friends, send your MP and local candidates an e-card with your concerns, view the card
'Pure NZ' Quality Standards Face Destruction under TPPA 8/11/2011
Infomation about the TPP agreement is to remain secret for four years, but there are strong signals that the agreement will lead to a loss of sovereignty over issues that directly affect every New Zealander. "New Zealand must not compromise the economic advantage of being World class and maintaining the gold standard for the least toxic, leat contaminated, and most ethical food production systems" said Jon Carapiet more...
Rich is wrong in World Food Day 19/10/2011
"Consumers have just sent retailers a letter asking for help over a food issue" said Claire Bleakley president of GE Free NZ more...
NZ Joins Millions Against Monsanto and R2K on World Food Day 16/10/2011
Consumers all over the world care about safe, GM-free, natural, organic, sustainable and ethical food production. more...
Food Fight Returns to Supermarkets 15/10/2011
Consumer concern about safety of GE foods is the hands of supermarket owners.
That is the message behind this week’s supermarket actions in locations across New Zealand, marking World Food Day this Sunday, and coinciding with the consumer Right2Know march in the United States. more...
Visitors Back GE-free Policy for New Zealand 13/10/2011
"When up to 80% of overseas visitors say no to New Zealand releasing GMOs, our food exporters, farmers and tourism industry should listen," says Jon Carapiet,spokesperson for GE Free NZ. more...
Bizarre Advice To Editors from NZ Science Media Centre 6/10/2011
The spin being pushed by the New Zealand Science Media Centre is obscurification of important debates in science. more...
Call for Moratorium as Farmers Switch Off GE-Canola, and Sales Fall 02/10/2011
"Our GE-free status is gaining us a marketing edge where organic and GE-free is in demand, and this must be protected," says Jon Carapiet, spokesman for GE-Free NZ more...
Official Smokescreen Undermines Science & Food Safety 28/09/2011
Lost in the FSANZ smokescreen is the internationally recognised need for GE foods to be regulated for safety due to the unknown effects of the foreign gene carrying viral and bacterial DNA. This regulation loses all credibility when it relies on the rejection of statistics and published peer-reviewed data. more...
Supermarkets Asked to Pull GE Maize After Study Finds GE Feed Toxic 14/09/2011
The adverse effects showing up in the animal testing of GE foods directly implicate the type of maize and soya being sold in New Zealand,"says Claire Bleakley, president of GE Free Nz. "These foods were approved safe without any rigorous or published safety tests. They should not be on sale given the organ damage confirmed by this meta study" more....
Call for Review of Contaminated Gardasil Vaccine 12/09/2011
The Ministry of Health must immediately recall and review the potentially life threatening Gardasil vaccine as six New Zealand batches have tested positive for the synthetic recombinant Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) DNA [1] [2]. This finding is highly concerning as the Health Authorities were told that all viral DNA had been removed from the vaccine through purification. more...
GE-Free NZ in food and environment are asking that the New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council and Health Minister immediately review the Food Standards Australia New Zealand approval to release 2, 4-D corn line DAS-40278-9 into the food supply more...
Minister called to Intervene against 2,4 D in Food 25/8/2011
This corn event is totally new to consumers, it has caused concerning and deleterious effects even in small doses in animal feeding studies more...
Lesson for NZ: New Herbicide Withdrawn As Side Effects Disclosed 17/08/2011
"It is not clear if FSANZ have simply ignored the issue, and the effects of synthetic hormones have not been investigated, or if the data have been withheld, and kept secret because of evidence of negative health effects,” more...
In Honour of Sir Paul Reeves 15/08/2011
"Sir Paul's leadership, compassion and humanity have been an enormous asset to New Zealand and he will be sorely missed, " says Jon Carapiet from GE Free NZ in food and environment.
"Our thoughts are with his family, and we extend our deepest sympathies and aroha." more...
Consumers want GE pulled off shelf: UK study 11/08/2011
"Even when people are told the GM product uses less pesticides or increases yields, despite undisclosed evidence that the opposite is true, most UK consumers are able to smell a rat." more...
Compromise of Biosecurity and Brand too High a Price to pay for TTPA deal 2/08/2011
Confidential trade negotiations may be covering up dangerous compromises that will undermine the clean-green foundations of New Zealands economy more...
Fear of New Toxic Soy Bean Cocktail 25/07/2011
‘This untested and unsafe level of new proteins that will be added to our food chain has potentially serious dangers to health, especially when we already have a cocktail of other GE proteins and chemicals in the diet that could cause interactions,” ...more
Human Trials of GE-Wheat Unethical 19/07/2011
"No GE foods should have been allowed into the food chain. More comprehensive research has to be done first, before allowing millions to eat any GE food, but biotech companies have stopped this being done. more...
There are serious concerns of a conflict of interest emerging in the Government's push for agricultural innovation using recombinant biotechnology, especially in the context of protecting New Zealand's Brand image. more...
GE Free AGM 14th August, The Arts Centre, 61 Abel Smith Street, Wellington 10.00-12.00am
Federated Farmers "lobbying" Role Must Not Conflict With New Zealand GE Free Values 04/07/2011
"Federated Farmers is now being part-led by someone who has a real conflict of interest between Dr Rolleston's own commercial investment in GE. The national interest is best served by research into non-GE biotechnology, MAB (Marker Assisted Breeding), organic and ethical production," says Jon Carapiet, spokesman for GE Free NZ more...
Minister Must Act On AgResearch Chicanery 24/06/2011
Documents released under the Official information Act (OIA) to the Dominion Post are a serious reflection on the way AgResearch has sought to cover up their lack of expertise and understanding on issues that are integral to animal and environmental safety, namely horizontal gene transfer...more....
E.coli Raises Issues for Food Authority Approvals 10/06/2011
The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) must consider if the latest outbreak of E.coli in Europe has implications for its impending approval of GE corn and soy more...
Maternal Blood Tests Cause for Rethink on GE Science Advice 24/05/2011
These findings show that the presumptions of safety were not made on scientific grounds and therefore pose and unknown threat to our most vulnerable, our children more...
Major Problems For Bio-Security as AgResearch Chops Roles 20/05/2011
The GE animal facility at Ruakura could be further compromised with the announcement the AgResearch is downsizing its executive positions more...
Infant Nutrition Council Misleading Parents With Attack 16/05/2011
GE Free NZ rejects the attack by the INC over the warning to parents that the supply chain for infant formula is being allowed to be contaminated [with GE ingredients] to the point where companies are no longer committed to stopping it more...
Parents warned over Oz baby formula 10/5/2011
Parents may want to avoid Nestle and Heinz baby formula made in Australia, and stock up on Organic New Zealand made products, after the companies they announced they will accept GM contaminants in their formula more....
The review by Professor Heinemann and colleagues published in the The Journal of Organic Systems found that there was a failure by Agresearch and ERMA to properly test and monitor environmental effects from GE field experiments more...
GE Cover up or just bad Science? 5/5/2011
Soil contamination and the spread of novel genes, could devestate New Zealands agricultural sector more...
GE Red Apple scientists pipped to the post 3/5/2011
Happy Mothers Day! A delicious red apple naturally bred and tasty more...
AgResearch Ignoring Biosecurity risks 1/5/2011
The conditions in the Ruakura fields were shocking, with waste matter from blood, effluent and milk visible. After ten years there are still no published studies into the possibility of horizontal gene transfer to soil microorganisms from the waste material more....
2 4-D GE corn about to be approved
Further assessment of A1042 a GE Corn line herbicide resistant to 2,4-D.
For more information on GE FREE NZ submission or to send and personalise one see an outline submission
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) are set to approve a 2, 4-D resistant corn. Public health will lose again as Food Standards Australia New Zealand Authority (FSANZ) is set to approve GE crops designed to survive spraying with a new range of toxic herbicides. FSANZ are risking the integrity of the food system by ignoring the toxicity of 2, 4-D and missing research data.
2, 4 -D is highly toxic to the thyroid and male reproductive system classing it as a potent endocrine disruptor. The approval of GE foods that promote the overuse of chemicals in our food chain must be stopped. Our food is being engineered to produce and be sprayed with increasing levels of highly toxic pesticides. Regulatory approvals are turning a blind eye to the health effects and allowing our food to become commercial toxic disposal factories".
Congratulations WDC for listening to your Community.
The Whangarei District Council have voted to unanimously reject the outdoor use of genetically engineered crops and animals. The WDC decision here
Fonterra must avoid Human-Cow Milk 08/04/2011
The transgenic creation of human /cow milk is ill-conceived and cruel to sentient animals. Animals should not pay for man's arrogance and lack of ethical balance in the application of powerful technologies,” says Claire Bleakley
GE Free and Nuclear values not a "Myth" 04/04/2011
The Pressure to get rid of New Zealand's GE Free status is now as high as the pressure brought to bare on NZ when David Lange declared New Zealand a Nuclear Free nation.
"It is sad that the Government continues to put money into the failed but costly Genetic Engineering research instead of the alternatives that have real benefit to farmers and consumers"...
Call for Otago report to be "withdrawn" 03/04/2011
A marketing professor and team from the University of Otago "Clean Green Image" are...
"The claims made by the report are only true within a framework of deceptive practices, which raise questions of ethics and academic credibility...withdrawn" says Jon Carapiet.
4000 GE Trees are being planted at Scion, in April 2011
Submissionon Application ERMA200479: Scion, Rotorua site...
To field test Pinus radiata with genetic modifications to alter plant growth/biomass acquisition, reproductive development, herbicide tolerance, biomass utilisation, wood density and wood dimensional stability.
Approved: December 2010 There were 234 Submissions recieved 217 against, 6 against, 11 undecided. See more...
A big "thank you" to all who have supported us. 
We won a landmark High Court case regarding "open ended, carte blanche" applications from AgResearch. The aplications sought to modify 9 species of animals with a huge range of genetic material from bacteria, viruses as well as human and monkey genes in undisclosed locations around NZ for an unlimited time. After an appeal by AgResearch the original decision was overturned by the Appeal Court. It was then submitted to the Supreme Court who did not agree to hear the case. All information on cases here...
Please join us to help in the fight to keep New Zealand GE FREE.
We would still love any donation to the cause. Please send a cheque to GE Free NZ, PO Box 13402, Johnsonville, or donate by Internet Banking: Account # 06-0996-0521358-00 (National Bank)
ARCHIVE INTEREST
Inghams deliberately using GM feed - despite their advertising claims! (11/2009)
The Commerce Commission has warned Inghams about misleading the public about its products. It is worth reading the scientific advice provided to the Commission showing that GM-feed can result in differences in the animal eating the GM material. See: "Report on Animals Exposed to GM Ingredients in Feed" - J Heinemann.
Report on animals exposed to GM in animal feed (PDF) »
Inghams has chosen to remove their GE Free label rather than keeping faith with their customers. Email: NZcomments@inghams.com.au , Phone Inghams: (07) 884 6549
READ MORE: TV one News: Inghams gets ticking off over "no GM" claims, TVNZ Breakfast News: GM Chickens, NZ Herald: Inghams warned over GM claims
GE TELEPHONE POLL (08/2009)
GE Telephone Poll in Auckland and Northland (COLMAR BRUNTON). The Auckland Regional Council and most of the territorial authorities north of Auckland right up to Cape Reinga surveyed their communities on Genetically Modified Organisms. See results...
Plans for GE grasses threaten NZ
See our press releases: 19/07, 9/08 and 19/10.
GM grass trial aims to cut cows' gas
EU says no to High-Lysine GE corn Approved in NZ (09/2009)
Monsanto pulls GM corn amid serious food safety concerns. Applicant's dossiers contained wide-ranging fraudulent research.
Heinemann also indicated that from comments released to him, it appears that Finland for example, was not satisfied with either the number or the of animal-feeding studies, and Malta voted to reject the maize on the basis of the INBI submission, "the same science that FSANZ attempted to bury down here." High Lysine GM Maize Withdrawn, Safety Concerns.
GE Animals: putting New Zealand at risk
It’s NOT O.K.
Government research institute ‘AgResearch’ has applied to develop genetically modified (GM) animals and commercialise their products.
This move could pose the single biggest threat to farm animals and New Zealand’s cultural identity.
If approved, AgResearch will be able to conduct broad-ranging genetic experiments on cows, goats, sheep, pigs, deer, llama, horses, rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and chickens. They will even use cells taken from humans and monkeys.
Their intention is to mix genes from different species to make transgenic animals. The process creates animal deformities, and new risks to human health, the environment and our reputation.
It’s not ok for overseas biotech investors to exploit New Zealand as an experimental playground when the public is liable for costs of clean-up when things go wrong
It’s not ok to create deformities and suffering in animals in order to make ‘cheaper’ pharmaceuticals, when other production methods are available
It’s not ok to undermine New Zealand’s reputation and brand-image as a producer of safe, natural, clean food the world wants
It’s not ok to genetically engineer animals with human genes and have no respect for the integrity of species, just to make ‘healthier’ nutriceutical milks
It’s not ok to deliberately create sick animals as ‘models’ of human disease when the Bioethics Council has called for an ethical review of such practices
It’s not ok to risk creating new diseases by experimenting on NZ animals when they are currently free of Mad Cow Disease and Scrapie
It’s not ok for GE animal waste to be used as compost or sprayed onto ...read more
GE Free New Zealand victory in landmark case (06/2009)
AgResearch open ended genetic engineering experimentation has been overturned by a high court decision. The case taken by GE Free New Zealand was due to concerns that without a clear understanding of the organisms to be created any risk could not be evaluated. GE Free New Zealand argued that ERMA was wrong to accept the application in the first instance. Justice Clifford agreed that ERMA erred in its decision to accept the AgResearch application under the HSNO Act. This application can therefore no longer be processed.
This application if approved could have allowed any DNA from animals (including human and monkey), plants, fungi, micro-organisms, viruses and/or synthetic sequences to be used in 9 livestock species. It would have set a precedent for carte blanche genetic engineering experiments in unidentified locations endangering New Zealand's agricultural economy and environment
More information please see GE Free New Zealand Press Release.
See the complete (46 pages pdf file) court document.
High Court Appeal On GE Animals Continues (02/2010)
Earlier this year the High Court upheld GE Free NZ’s complaint against other applications for GE animals by AgResearch. These applications for ‘anywhere, anything, anytime’ have the same flaws as the latest application (see: call for submissions). The decision is being appealed by AgResearch, with a hearing expected early 2010. See press release.
Submissions on GE animals ERMA200223:
1545 Submissions recieved, 1527 against, 4 for, 11 ambivalent.
AgResearch has applied to develop (in indoor and outdoor containment) goats, sheep and cows genetically modified to produce human therapeutic proteins, and to alter levels of gene activities and proteins for the study of gene function, milk composition and disease resistance. See press releases from 9/11 and 17/11.
Read the full application.
ERMA Brassica Field Trial
(2007-2009)
GE Free NZ (in food and environment) has filed High Court Papers on 25 June 2007. After much consideration papers were filed in relation to errors in law relating to approvals for field trials of GE Brassica..... read more
Crop & Food Research in the South island have applied to ERMA (the Environmental Risk Management Authority) for a 10-year field-trial of Genetically Engineered brassicas. The plants were engineered with ‘Bt’ Bacillus thuringiensis toxic CRY genes and bacteria and virus genes to kill cabbage white and diamond backed moth.
On the 22nd December 2008 Soil and Health spokesperson Steffan Browning photographed a flowering brassica. ERMA and MAF were notified and were presented with the photographic evidence presentation and the written submission. The field trial was closed down all documents on breaches can be found at...
Brassica Trial Breach Fiasco...
Plant & Food Research has cancelled its genetic engineering trials on the breaches at the field trial of GE broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and forage kale after recommendation on the breach from their internal report. This follows photographic and written evidence of the trial breaches presented at an urgent meeting to ERMA and MAF -BNZ by GE Free NZ and Soil and Health.
See photos and documentation from GE Free NZ: See documentation of breach of consent conditions and re-assessment application to Irma by GE Free NZ.
Plant & Food Report: Brassica Review of Procedures
Local Government ACTION:
YOU SHOULD HAVE A SAY RE GENETIC ENGINEERING
From March all councils will be consulting you regarding plans for the next 10 years. It is imperative that they hear from you that GE release into our environment is an issue that must be taken seriously.
Start your own Petition and give your GE Free requests more weight. Download a Petition Form and collect signatures of likeminded people in your community.
Valuable resources to this are also available at: http://www.giantexperiment.co.nz in the Take Action -> Resources section.
Basic Council Lobbying Kit
Find out how to effectively lobby your Local and Regional Council
LobbyingYourLocalGovt-LSNov2004.doc
SuggestedCnlPresentation.dc
Xenotransplantation: Animal-to-Human Transplantation
New Zealand's Bioethics Council has launched a discussion document on the subject entitled “The Cultural, Spiritual and Ethical Aspects of Xenotransplantation: Animal-to-Human Transplantation”. The Council is embarking on a public dialogue project to listen to the views of New Zealanders on the cultural, ethical and social aspects of xenotransplantation.
>> Read more here <<
A test for Bt10 is currently available within the EU!
The detection of Bt10 maize as well as the distinction from Bt11 is possible immediately. »Read more here«
Meningococcal vaccine Information (MeNZB) for members interest
This vaccine is now withdrawn. GE Free has collated information on the Meningococcal vaccine (MeNZB) for members interest. >> Read more here <<
GE Moratorium Reinstatement Bill was defeated in Parliament last night. >> Here is how the parties voted <<
Sign on to the GE Free Register and declare your property to stay GE free. Give a powerful message to those who intent to pollute the country with GE organisms. Research overseas shows that GE cannot be contained and threatens neighbouring properties. Check out how many have signed on in your area already!!
R.I.P. GE MORATORIUM
The GE Free marches around the country were supported by thousands of people. Government however acted undemocratically deciding to lift the ge moratorium anyway, despite 70% of New Zealanders calling for it to stay in place.
At parliament’s "Tent City" the People’s Moratorium was launched and the Peoples Moratorium enforcement agency was set up. (see website)
Things you can do:
1. Get as many people as you can in your area to sign the GE Free Register to support your calls for councilors to adopt a GE Free stance.
2. Contact your local councilors, encourage them to declare your local area GE Free. This year is local election year, find out prospective councilors opinions and support green candidates.
3. Visit your local Government MP–today, tell them your concerns and ask them to support their electorate!
URGENT: Write or talk to your local authority - questions referring to their new responsibilities in your area after the moratorium on GE is lifted.
Check out suggested questions.
New amendments are soon to be made to the Resource Management Act with more limited public notification on applications. 95% of resource consent applications are already processed on a non-notified basis and decisions are based solely on information provided by the applicant.
HSNO ACT AMENDMENT INFORMATION
Human Cloning?
The New Zealand government is planning to become the first in the world to legalise the inheritable genetic modification of human beings within the next 6 months. They claim they are doing this because "There is potential for therapies that use germ-line genetic modification to rectify inherited genetic conditions such as Huntington's Disease." They are going to do this through a piece of legislation called the Human Assisted Reproduction Technology (HART) Bill.
Although this Bill does make some positive changes, for example, ban reproductive cloning, the legal precedent it will set with inheritable genetic modification could change forever the evolutionary history of Homo sapiens.
GE-Free NZ submission to the Hart Bill in MS-Word format(750kb) or in PDF format(930kb)
The Beginning of the End of the Human Race and the Start of a Transhuman Future?
Analysis of the New Zealand Governments Proposals to Amend the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill. Read article by Tremane Barr - also includes lots of LINKS to "cloning related" sites or check out the "International Treaty Prohibiting Human Cloning and Inheritable Alterations"
ERMA DISCUSSION DOCUMENT ON MAORI ISSUES AND GE http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/Consultation/Discussion-paper-Maori-concerns.pdf
About 10,000 people marched in Aucklandat a Rally on November 16, 2002 demanding Aotearoa New Zealand remain GE-Free in food and environment.
New Edition of the GE Free Food Guide out now
Search the database or download your free guide now at www.gefreefood.org.nz
What is Monsanto doing to farmers? The case of Percy Schmeiser and its implications -see cropchoice article.
Seeds of Distrust: The story of a GE Cover-up
In November, 2000 - in the middle of the Royal Commission on genetic engineering - the Government learned that a shipment of GE contaminated sweet corn seeds had been planted in three regions of New Zealand. Imposing strict secrecy, Prime Minister Helen Clark took control of the issue and said that the crops must be pulled out.
Then the big business lobbying began.
You can find the book here: www.craigpotton.co.nz
'Coexistence' or the End of GM in NZ?-A Public Perspective - by Jon Carapiet- spokesperson for GE-Free NZ (in food and environment)
Prepared for the 'Life Sciences Network' / NZ Journalist Training Organisation workshop, Wellington 23 April 2002.
Read the article online or alternatively download it here. 
Commission Fails Its Mission - How the Report Of The Royal Commission On Genetic Modification Presents An Erroneous And Unjustifiably Favourable Picture of Bioengineered Foods, Steven M. Druker, Executive Director, Alliance for Bio-Integrity
Open Letter to the Royal Commission on Genetic Engineering - Dr. Mae-Wan Ho, Director, Institute of Science in Society
Royal Commission on Genetic Modification
The Royal Commission on Genetic Modification has delivered its recommendations to the Government. You can download the full report as a zipped up version from our website.
Note: It's 5 MB in size.