Northland Sustainability Newsletter No. 35 – 13 October 2002

"Think globally, act locally"

The purpose of this newsletter is to keep people informed about environmental matters in Northland. It is free and getting it does not impose any obligation. But if something comes up that you are particularly concerned about then knowing what is happening may give you the opportunity to do something about it.

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GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES ATTACK ON THE ENVIRONMENT

The Government is moving quickly to introduce limited notification into the Resource Management Act over the next two weeks. Limited notification will block members of the community from participating in important environmental decisions.

Please express your concerns over these proposals to Rt Hon Helen Clark, Prime Minister, Parliament Buildings Wellington, email: mailto: mailto:pm@ministers.govt.nz or phone (04) 471 9998 Hon Marian Hobbs, Minister for the Environment, Parliament Buildings Wellington. Email:
mailto: mailto:mhobbs@ministers.govt.nz or phone (04) 470 6566 Larry Baldock, Environment Spokesperson - United Future, Parliament Buildings, Wellington Email: mailto: mailto:united.nz@parliament.govt.nz or phone (04) 471 9999.

It would also be useful to send emails to other politicians or, better yet, give them a call. Also write letters to the Herald – mailto: mailto:letters@nzherald.co.nz (200 words max) or Dominion Post
mailto: mailto:letters@dompost.co.nz (200 words max) or The Press mailto: mailto:editorial@press.co.nz (150 words max) or your local paper. All letters must carry name and residential address and daytime phone number. If you are sending them by email they should go into the body of the email, not as an attachment.

Currently the Resource Management Act allows resource consents to be processed without public involvement where adversely affected parties (usually limited to adjacent land owners) have given their consent and the effects of the activity will be less than minor.

Despite a clear presumption in favour of public participation, less than 5% of resource consents are currently notified. The vast majority of resource consent applications are decided solely on
information provided by the applicant, and the views of the community and environmental interests are not considered. This may explain why fewer than 1% of resource consent applications are declined! Councils have approved the destruction of outstanding natural areas without any public input, such as the clearfelling of 100ha of pristine native forest in the Catlins.

The Resource Management Amendment Bill will define "minor effects" against a baseline of those activities that can be carried out as of right under a district or regional plan. Unfortunately the vast majority of activities are permitted and only a small proportion require resource consent. Introducing this definition would allow activities, such as clearing kiwi habitat in areas Northland, to be defined as "minor" under the Act.

"Limited notification", as proposed by the Government in the Resource Management Amendment Bill, would mean that members of the community, including environmental and community groups, will be excluded from RM processes unless they are adjacent landowners. If this Bill is passed and members of the public are excluded, who will represent the community and the environment?

For more information see the Forest and Bird website (www.forestandbird.org.nz) or contact: Kate Mitcalfe, Environmental Lawyer, Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of NZ Inc, PO Box 631, Wellington, Phone (04) 385 7374

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We welcome your suggestions, advice of activities, promotion of events -- anything green or environmentally-friendly in Auckland or Northland. In response to a suggestion we will endeavour to put new items in bold, so that people don't need to read items that were published the previous issue. Do you want us to omit items after they've been in one issue? Or two issues?

Managing Native Trees for Pleasure and Profit, Field Day and Workshop - Saturday 2nd November 9.30am to 3.30pm, Glenbervie Hall, Whangarei. The Northland Regional Council, NZ Landcare Trust and Tane Tree Trust will present a session of technical information followed by a field trip to look at Totara and Kauri managed for timber. Topics covered include growth and management of Totara in Northland; growth rates of a range of natives; management of Kauri; ecology of Kauri and management of natives in Northland to enhance biodiversity. Morning and afternoon teas provided, bring your own lunch. Sausage sizzle available at the usual cost. Contact Kathy Mortimer - NRC 09 438 4639 or Helen Moodie - NZ Landcare Trust 09 436 3170

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Has anyone heard about a proposal whereby the rubbish from the Far North will all soon be taken to Auckland (Redvale Landfill)?

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Tues-Thurs, 29-31/10/02, Ecotourism: A Sustainable Approach for Tourism in the Tai Tokerau Region, Conference in Russell, mailto: mailto:conference@ernz.org Full programme now on the website http://ernz.org If you have not yet received your registration documents, send an email to mailto: mailto:conference@ernz.org

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WHAT’S HAPPENING WHERE IN THE NORTH

Weekly Organic Market, Saturdays, 9am-1pm, Café Eutopia, SH1, Kaiwaka. Contact Raewyn Harris, 09 431 2999

Weekly organic farmer’s market at the Waipapa Hall on Saturdays, 9am to 1pm. Contact Chris or Julia on 09 4075941 or mailto:gaias@xtra.co.nz

Weekly organic market at Kaitaia, Saturday mornings, near The Warehouse.

Sat, 12/10/02, F&B Far North, Working Bee at Arethusa, Charles LeHeron, 405 9992, new members welcome.

Sun, 13/10/02, KCC Northland and Far North A day trip to Aroha Island, near Kerikeri. Join us for a fun day on this wonderful island which is an ecological centre and home to the North Island Brown Kiwi. Kayaks are available for us to use if we want and life jackets are supplied (but bring your own if you wish). You will need a change of clothes, good footwear, raincoat and lunch/drink. There is a campground there if anyone would like to stay (and the weather is warm enough! ph- 09 407 5243). Cost of trip is $1/person.

Mon, 21/10/02, 8.30pm, TV1, "PALESTINE IS STILL THE ISSUE", the latest Pilger documentary.

Fri-Mon, 26-28/10/02, Scrap to Sculpture Project by Sustainable Whangarei and Northland Craft Trust

Mon, 28/10/02 Eco-Village Open Day, Otamatea, Shared lunch 1pm, guided tours 2-4pm

Tues-Thurs, 29-31/10/02, Ecotourism: A Sustainable Approach for Tourism in the Tai Tokerau region, Conference in Russell, mailto: mailto:conference@ernz.org. This conference is looking very exciting, fantastic speakers – overseas – great workshops. Look for information on the website, http://ernz.org or email mailto: mailto:conference@ernz.org.

Sat, 02/11/02, 9.30 to 3.30, Managing Native Trees for Pleasure and Profit, Field Day and Workshop, Glenbervie Hall, Whangarei

Tuesday 10/12/02. Community Networkers meeting in Cafler Suite, Forum North, Whangarei. 9.30am till about 11am'ish. Free and open to anyone involved in, or interested in what is happening in our community. Contact Dianne Trewin, Whangarei Council of Social Services, phone 09 430 0176.

7-21/2/03 Otamatea Eco-village, Permaculture Design Course, 14 days, residential. mailto: mailto:pukahu@xtra.co.nz or lynne_hindle@xtra.co.nz

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ORGANIC /GE FREE IN NORTHLAND

We’ve been looking for restaurants, shops, distributors of organic food etc. These are what we have to date: (As well as all the major supermarkets etc, who now have special shelves set aside for organic food.)

ecostore, 1 Scotland St, Ponsonby, Auckland, supplies organic food and organic gardening supplies, pure bodycare and household cleaners, freephone: 0800 77FAIR (0800 773247) or www.ecostore.co.nz

Gourmet Organics, 169 Vauxhall Road, Devonport, Ph: 09 445 2602;

Harvest Organics, organic produce and wholefoods. 26 Clarence St, Devonport, 09 446 0100;

Global Organics NZ Ltd, importer and exporter. PO Box 331315 Takapuna, Ph: 09 489 9952;

I E Produce, specialists in organic fruit & vegetables. 1 Barrys Pt Rd, Takapuna, Ph: 09 488 0211 www.organicfresh.co.nz;

Organic 2 U, home deliveries of organic fruit and vegetables, 56c Barrys Point Rd, Private Bag MBE 138, Takapuna, Ph: 09 486 6103

Organic Home delivery. 26a Parkway Drive, Mairangi Bay, Ph: 09 478 0300 www.organicfoods.co.nz;

Organic Produce, Ph 09 414 6990, Fax 09 414 6991, mailto:info@organicproduce.co.nz and www.organicproduce.co.nz

Warkworth Greengrocery, opposite Four Square, Main Street, Warkworth

Stubbs Butchery, 10 Queen St, Warkworth 09 425 8949

Andrew's Organics, PO Box 262, Warkworth, produces and sells Fish Fertiliser and a Garlic & Cider Vinegar animal health food supplement, both Bio-Gro certified. Ph 09 425 7629 mailto: mailto:andbina@wk.planet.gen.nz

Café Eutopia, SH1, GE free, totally organic, next to Windmill Cheese shop, open 7 days 9am-5pm, 09 431 2999

The Potager Ltd, 29-33 The Centre, Waipu, 09 432 0990

PutiPuti Ra Wholefoods, Walton St Whangarei, 09 430 0606

Tango (GE-free), next to Police Station

Mezzanine (organic and GE-free), above PutiPuti Ra, Walton St

Cambrian Meats, SH1, Mata, Whangarei 09 432 2221

T & Z Vallings Organic Avocados, Maungakaramea (Whangarei), 09 4322155 fax 09 4323018 arboreus@ihug.co.nz, organic garlic also available. We ship via FASTWAYS or Turners & Growers

Mezzanine Café, 79 Walton Street, Whangarei (opposite the Pak’n’Save car park). Vegetarian, GE-free, Organic food.

Titahe Craft and Organics - Rose Pullin, 70 Gillies St, Kawakawa Phone 404 1675, after hours ph/fax 0 405 9977, Weekdays 9-5, Saturday mornings, 9-12am.

Bay Four Square, (Back Shop) York St, Russell, ph 09 403 7602

Little Fresh, Matauwhi Bay Rd, Russell, ph 09 403 8021.

Orongo Bay Homestead, grows and serves organic produce.

Kerikeri Organic Produce: SH10, Kerikeri 09 407 8650;

Pukerau Taiamai (Ohaeawai), SH12 (2.5km north of Taiamai). Organic vegetables, members of TOPIS and FNOG Transition No. 157, Geneva and Ray. Phone 09 405 9418, mobile 025 292 4936. Email mailto: mailto:genevah@ihug.co.nz

Mangonui Four Square, Beach Rd, Mangonui

It’s Healthy, The Plaza, Kaitaia. Phone 09 408 2606.

Plantscape, Hokianga, Pakanae. is an organic nursery specialising in locally sourced coastal natives. Phone 09 405 8788. They also sell organic produce grown on the property.

Hokianga Healthfoods, Clendon Esplanade, Rawene, ph 09 405 7759

Zion Gardens: NorthlandOrganic Growers and Producers Ass’n, Certificated Grower No.149, Horeke Rd, Taheke, Kaikohe (1.5km off SH12). Ph (09) 4014 850, fax (09) 4014 710, mailto:zion@igrin.co.nz. Weekly box delivery to Rawene, Opononi and Omapere.

Waipoua Lodge uses only organically farmed lamb, beef and chicken on its menu, (sourced from "Living Nature", Dargaville) As far as possible greens, salads etc are grown on site to ensure freedom from harmful sprays. Further info at www.waipoualodge.co.nz;

Nature’s Way Organic Meats, supply only the finest organic beef, lamb and organic free range chickens. Also suppliers of ‘old fashioned’ smoky bacon and hams 106 Jervois St, Dargaville, Ph/fax: 09-439-7054; www.naturesway.co.nz

The Way-2-Go State Highway 16 Café, 33-35 Commercial Rd, Helensville

Organic Beef and beef products Eisenmann Erwin + Ursula, Organic Beef and beef products from Demeter certified livestock. Waima Hill Beef, organic, biodynamic directly from the farm delivered to your doorstep. All cuts and German style sausages available. Contact ursula:eisenman@ihug.co.nz. Ph,fax: 09 405 3833, Waima Hill, R.D.3 Kaikohe

Any more?

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PROPOSED NEW SOUTHERN LANDFILL - Northland College Forestry Land, Kaikohe, Initial consultation will identify any issues the community may have with regard to a landfill at this site.

Information is available on the FNDC website www.fndc.govt.nz and from FNDC Services Centres at Kaikohe, Kaitaia, Kaeo, Kerikeri, Kawakawa & Rawene, and the Information Centre at Paihia.

The Consultation Co-ordinator – Michelle Hull, FNDC, Private Bag 752, Kaikohe.

Tel: 0-9-407 4604 or fax: 0-9-407 1929. Email: mailto: mailto:collegelandfill@fndc.govt.nz,

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The MfE have a new public discussion paper on the HSNO Act and GE. You can use the link below to view the paper or request a hard copy to be sent to you (easier reading!!) email: mailto: mailto:HSNOamend@mfe.govt.nz Phone: (04) 917 7400 or write to: HSNO Amendment, Ministry for the Environment, PO Box 10-362, Wellington.

Public Discussion paper: Improving the Operation of the Hazardous Substances

and New Organisms (HSNO)Act (submissions close 15 Nov)

http://www.mfe.govt.nz/about/publications/hsno/discussion-paper/index.html

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