GE Free Whaingaroa created model submissions which members of the public were able to sign, add comments if they wanted and hand in to the council. “Writing a district plan submission is no easy task” said Aaron Mooar from GE Free Whaingaroa. “Most people don’t have the time or the knowledge to make an effective one very easily so we democratised the process by writing up model submissions for anyone who was interested.

The result was that as a subject the council received more submissions on GE than any other subject and judging from their internal discussion documents they felt that they could no longer ignore the issue. GE Free Whaingaroa hopes that people in other regions will be able to have the same effect on their council and in combination with the Waikato GE Free Network has created a model LTCCP submission at the GE Free Seeds website that anyone can use to submit to their council.

“From what we understand Waikato District is reluctant to be the first to stick it’s neck out and actually incorporate controls on GMO-release into their district plan. Our fear is that if they don’t do it this time around they will end up being the last to do so”, said John Lawson. “What we need is for people all around New Zealand to make it clear to every council that they must regulate for GMOs so that the Waikato District will know that it’s part of a large public groundswell.”

John Lawson also added that the members of GE Free Whaingaroa are more than happy to give advice to groups who are preparing submissions and/or presentations in their area.

GE Free Seeds website: http://www.gefreeseeds.com

Submission page http://www.gefreeseeds.com/submission_to_council.htm

See also: Ban GMO Landuses in your community and Ground Breaking GE Hearing and GE Free NZ local government submission page and Get your GE Free submissions in now!