PMs Sustainability Vision most important statement for some time

The Soil & Health Association congratulates Prime Minister Helen Clark for the vision of New Zealand being the world’s first truly sustainable nation.

Yesterday at the Labour Party Conference the Prime Minister asked, “Why shouldn’t New Zealand aim to be the first country which is truly sustainable… I believe that sustainability will be a core value in 21st century social democracy…

* I want New Zealand to be in the vanguard of making it happen – for our own sakes, and for the sake of our planet.
* I want sustainability to be central to New Zealand’s unique national identity….”

“This is the most important and exciting statement for New Zealand’s future for some time from that level,” said Steffan Browning, Soil & Health spokesperson, “New Zealanders will welcome a vision of a truly clean green country.”

This significant vision fits with the Soil & Health vision of an Organic 2020, where by the year 2020 most of New Zealand’s production is certified organic and the remainder is in conversion to organic.

With milestones towards an Organic 2020 being difficult to achieve until recently, such vision from the Prime Minister is encouraging. It comes on the back of last year’s Government funding support for sector group Organics Aotearoa New Zealand, and the Green Party initiated funding for an Organics Advisory Service.

“Organic milestones will be more easily attained with a sustainability vision coming from the Prime Minister,” said Mr Browning.

“Organic production leads the way in sustainable methods of primary production, and a visionary Prime Minister will hopefully do all in her power to ensure the organic sector, as a vanguard of sustainability, can maintain its development into the future.”

Prime Minister Helen Clark finished, “Our country is special, and our people are special.” Soil & Health would add its motto ‘Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, Healthy People.”