Special General Meeting – Saturday 4 May 2024, 10am to 12pm

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The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand held a Special General Meeting on Saturday 4th May to gauge members’ support for a new strategic vision. The meeting was held in Wellington, with those unable to attend in person attending via Zoom.

DRAFT MEETING MINUTES

The draft Minutes of the SGM can be found here.

FINANCIAL REPORT

The Financial Report presented to the SGM can be found here.

The meeting Agenda and Remits were as follows.

AGENDA

  1. Welcome
  2. Financial Overview and Discussion
  3. Election of National Councillors (two positions available)
  4. Remits

REMITS

1)  That the Soil & Health Association re-register as an Incorporated Society under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022.

Proposed by National Council

Rationale: This motion is required in order for our new constitution to be registered with the Companies Office and Charities Services.

2) That the constitution be amended to include the following clause under ‘objects’: ‘To honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi’

Proposed by National Council

Rationale: This was raised at the 2023 AGM by members and National Council agrees this clause should be included.

3) That the revised constitution adopted by members at the 2023 AGM be adopted again

Proposed by National Council

Rationale: Purely procedural, in order to ensure there are no further hold-ups with this process. No further changes to the constitution are proposed with the exception of Remit #2 above. 

4) That production of OrganicNZ cease until such time as it becomes financially viable.

Proposed by National Council

Rational: After extensive work to save the magazine over the last six months, and noting the current cashflow situation, there is no way production can continue.

5) That the membership fee be amended.

Proposed by National Council

Rationale: Since the membership fee was doubled last year we have seen membership rates continue to decline. 

6) That an e-newsletter for members only be established

Proposed by National Council

Rationale: To help keep our members informed and up to date with our work and connected to the wider organic community.

7) That National Council be empowered to rationalise our web offerings if required

Proposed by National Council

Rationale: At present we maintain three websites: Soil & Health, OrganicNZ and Organic Week. National Council believes it needs to explore the feasibility of maintaining all of these and act accordingly once this process is completed. 

Report of the 2023 AGM

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The 2023 AGM of the Soil & Health Association was held over Zoom on Saturday October 7th.

Draft Minutes

The draft Minutes of the 2023 AGM can be found here. Members who were present at the AGM may wish to suggest amendments to the Minutes, to be discussed and approved as final at the 2024 AGM.

Agenda

The Agenda was as follows:

  1. Welcome and Notice of General Business
  2. Acceptance of Agenda
  3. Attendance and Apologies
  4. Confirmation of the Minutes of the 2022 AGM
  5. Introduction of Voting Section
    • Nominees for National Council
    • Nominees address to members
    • Questions to nominees
  6. Voting
  7. Reports
    •  Chair’s Report
    •  BioGro Report
    •  Branch Reports
  8. Financial Report
  9. Remit to adopt new Constitution
  10. General Business
    • Nomination of Brendan Hoare for Honorary Life Membership
  11. Closing

Papers

The following papers were presented to the AGM:

Remits

The following remits were agreed upon at the meeting:

  1. That the Soil and Health Association membership adopt the Constitution document known as the Constitution of the Soil and Health Association 2022 (the Constitution).
  2. The National Council supports the adoption of the Constitution

A copy of the Remits can be found here.

The draft Constitution can be found here.

Honorary Life Membership – Brendan Hoare

Members at the AGM ratified Brendan Hoare’s nomination as an Honorary Life Member of the Association, as agreed by the National Council.

The original nomination for Brendan’s life membership came from Philippa Jamieson and Marion Thomson.

Genetic Engineering Webinar: What do Consumers Want? Navigating GE Issues with Jon Carapiet

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On 5th March 2024, the Soil & Health Association of NZ held an online webinar with Jon Carapiet, to discuss consumer issues around GE. This included the right to choose, labelling, traceability, and consumers overseas – our export markets. Scroll down to read more about the webinar and to access the full recording. If you benefited from this webinar, please consider donating to Soil & Health to support our vital work, details below.

Jon is a consumer advocate, market researcher and national spokesperson for GE Free NZ (in food and environment). For almost 20 years, Jon has spoken out about the need to moderate the powerful use of gene technology to protect New Zealand’s capacity to produce and sell non-GMO food and to protect the rights of consumers at home and overseas. As an advocate for Brand New Zealand, Jon draws on his years of experience as a senior market researcher and brand communications consultant. Jon has a Bachelor’s degree from Cambridge University and a Master’s from Auckland University, and as well as working in research, he is a keen photographer, regularly exhibiting his artwork.

Access the webinar here

The webinar can be viewed here: Jon Carapiet – 5th March 2024.

A copy of Jon’s PowerPoint presentation can be viewed here.

If you would like to view the other webinars in our GE series, please go to the GE Free Campaign page of our website.

Donate to support the vital work of Soil & Health

All webinars and events are free for all members of Soil and Health; otherwise we suggest a donation of $20. All funds go towards Soil & Health’s advocacy and campaign for a GE-free New Zealand, and are eligible for tax credits.

Make your donation by credit card: soilandhealth.org.nz/donate

Or transfer funds to our account: BNZ, account number: 02 0108 0058415 001
With the reference: GE donation

Genetic Engineering Panel Discussion: Where are we at in Aotearoa New Zealand

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On 21 November 2023, the Soil and Health Association NZ held an online webinar for an update and discussion about GE. We had over 200 attendees and some great discussion! Scroll down to read more about the webinar and to access the full recording. If you benefited from this webinar, please consider donating to Soil & Health to support our vital work, details below.

What’s the current law, what’s in our food and fields, and what does the future hold? Join Dr. Jessica Hutchings, Papawhakaritorito Charitable Trust; Philippa Jamieson, OrganicNZ magazine; and Charles Hyland, Soil and Health Association NZ in conversation.

About the panelists:

Dr Jessica Hutchings, Papawhakaritorito Charitable Trust
Dr Jessica Hutchings (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Huirapa, Gujarati) is nationally and internationally recognised as a leader in Indigenous food systems and Māori food and soil sovereignty; she is a founding Trustee of the Papawhakaritorito Charitable Trust that works to uplift Māori food and soil sovereignty and Hua Parakore (Māori organics) through research, development and community practice.

Philippa Jamieson, Organic NZ Magazine
Philippa Jamieson is a writer and marketing manager of Organic NZ Magazine. Philippa is an organic advocate, gardener, editor, writer and celebrant living in Dunedin. She is chair of the Organics Aotearoa NZ GE policy group, a life member of the Soil & Health Association, and involved in her local community orchard project.

Charles Hyland, Soil & Health Association
Soil & Health National Councillor Charles Hyland is a soil scientist and biogeochemist who moved to NZ in 2013 after working as a scientist at Cornell University in the USA for over ten years. Organic agriculture and natural systems have always been central to his work and worldview.

Access the webinar here

Donate to support the vital work of Soil & Health

All webinars and events are free for all members of Soil and Health; otherwise we suggest a donation of $20. All funds go towards Soil & Health’s advocacy and campaign for a GE-free New Zealand, and are eligible for tax credits.

Make your donation by credit card: soilandhealth.org.nz/donate

Or transfer funds to our account: BNZ, account number: 02 0108 0058415 001
With the reference: GE donation

2023 AGM Remits

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On this page you can read about our one proposed remit and vote (scroll to the bottom to vote). For information about the AGM, AGM papers, and to register to attend, please visit our AGM page.

We have one remit, which is to adopt a revised constitution.

Remit to AGM: To Adopt the draft Constitution
  1. That the Soil and Health Association membership adopt the Constitution document known as the Constitution of the Soil and Health Association 2022 (the Constitution).
  2. The National Council supports the adoption of the Constitution.
Background

The Constitution has been drafted as a result of changes to the law regarding the Incorporated Societies Bill 2022. An opportunity has been taken to:

  • Address any anomalies in the Soil and Health Constitution 2020 (the existing Constitution) and to
  • add new and make changes to rules governing various administrative matters including but not confined to conflicts of interest, termination of membership, fairness, and equity provisions in respect of relationships between members, and National Council and members.

You can read the draft constitution here: soilandhealth.org.nz/FINAL-Draft-Constitution

Voting instructions

If you are a member of Soil and Health (including subscribers to OrganicNZ magazine), you can vote for or against our remit. Electronic voting will close 5pm Thursday 5 October. Alternatively, if you attend the AGM you may vote over Zoom.

Vote now

We may contact you regarding your vote. If your membership is not current, we will ask you to pay the relevant membership fee before your vote is counted.

Any queries please contact the returning officer: manager@organicnz.org.nz

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2023 Election of National Council

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On this page you can read about the candidates and vote (scroll to the bottom to vote). For information about the AGM, AGM papers, and to register to attend, please visit our AGM page.

National council comprises of up to seven members elected for two year terms. Barbara Collis and Charles Hyland are sitting councillors not due for re-election this year. Mike Palmers stepped down from council part way through their term, and Marion Wood is finishing their term at this AGM.

The following nominations have been received for the resulting five vacant positions on national council. Two positions remain vacant.

  • Jenny Lux (nominated by Barbara Collis, seconded by Marion Wood)
  • Kaitlyn Lamb (nominated by Jenny Lux, seconded by Jeananne Kelly)
  • Rebecka Keeling (nominated by Jenny Lux, seconded by Trish Allen)

Candidate details

About Jenny Lux, MSc

Ngā mihi mahana, warm greetings, to the organic community in Soil & Health. I am the current Chairperson and am seeking re-election. I have been in this responsible role for only four months (having been on the council for 4 years), and in these recent times I have been steadily dealing with governance and management issues, building an amazing team of skilled staff, contractors and volunteers who will take Organic NZ magazine and our campaigns to the next level. I would like to have the chance to lead us into a collaborative and financially sound future, and to have an even better Organic Week in 2024. There are many challenges up ahead, financial and political, and we must work together to keep our Association strong and our message clear. Yes to organic growing everywhere! No to GE and pesticides! Yes to healthy soil, food, people, and climate!

About Kaitlyn Lamb

Kia ora ko Kaitlyn toku ingoa. Connection, and human, soil and ecosystem wellbeing (which is one interconnected health!) are a few of my passions. I am a compost encourager and an urban farmer from Rotorua, studying a Bachelor of Science at the University of Canterbury. At the university I co-lead The UC Compost Club and grow kai at one of the halls of residence, at Ikigai Urban Farm. My dream is to set up an urban biodynamic market garden with localised composting in Rotorua.

Since February of this year, I have voluntarily been on the council to fill in an empty spot. I am now standing for council because I would like to develop my governance skills, learn from all the incredible humans on the council and make a positive difference to the health of the soil in Aotearoa. Everything that Soil & Health stands for, is what I deeply stand for.

About Rebecka Keeling

Rebecka shares her time between Slow Blooms flower farm in Matakana and a PR consultancy in Auckland City. A digital native who brings international experience in marketing and communications, and is passionate about practicing PR with a purpose.

She holds a degree from AUT in PR and Communications, as well as a New Zealand Certificate of Horticulture and a Permaculture Design Certificate. Also the co-founder of Permaculture Mahurangi, a freelance writer, and an outspoken advocate for produce grown locally, in its natural season, with care for the earth.

Rebecka is looking forward to supporting the Soil & Health Association in reaching more people with its important messages, while strengthening its profile in social as well as in traditional media. She has already been volunteering some time in 2023 to assist the current Soil & Health National Council.

Voting instructions

Each member may cast three votes, one each for the three vacancies on national council. You may only vote once for each candidate. The three candidates with the highest number of total votes will be declared elected. Even though we have fewer candidates than vacancies we still encourage you to vote. This ensures a strong mandate and support for these volunteers putting their hands up.

If you attend the AGM, you may vote over Zoom.

Alternatively, you can vote electronically by using the form below. E-voting will close at 5pm on Thursday 5 October.

Vote now

We may contact you regarding your vote. If your membership is not current, we will ask you to pay the relevant membership fee before your vote is counted.

Any queries please contact the returning officer: manager@organicnz.org.nz


2023 AGM of the Soil & Health Association

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The 2023 AGM will be held at 10am over Zoom on Saturday October 7th.

Save the Zoom link ahead of time: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85315336734

Register now

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Vote in the 2023 Election of National Council

Read about the candidates and vote here: soilandhealth.org.nz/association-meetings-and-events/2023-election-of-national-council

Electronic voting will close 5pm Thursday 5 October. If you attend the AGM as a member, you can vote on the day.

Agenda

  1. Welcome and Notice of General Business
  2. Acceptance of Agenda
  3. Attendance and Apologies
  4. Confirmation of the Minutes of the 2022 AGM
  5. Introduction of Voting Section
    • Nominees for National Council
    • Nominees address to members
    • Questions to nominees
  6. Voting
  7. Reports
    •  Chair’s Report
    •  BioGro Report
    •  Branch Reports
  8. Financial Report
  9. Remit to adopt new Constitution
  10. General Business
    • Nomination of Brendan Hoare for Honorary Life Membership
  11. Closing

A PDF of the AGM Agenda is available here. Please note that the previously advised agenda was amended on 4th October 2023.

Draft minutes

The draft minutes of the 2022 AGM are available here: Draft minutes of the 2022 AGM

Papers

The AGM papers are available below:

Remits

We have one remit, which is to adopt a revised constitution. To read more about the remit, and vote, see: soilandhealth.org.nz/association-meetings-and-events/2023-agm-remits/

Nomination for Honorary Life Membership – Brendan Hoare

Jenny Lux, Chair, would like to propose a motion that the members at the AGM ratify Brendan Hoare’s nomination as an Honorary Life Member of the Association, as agreed by the National Council. The motion is seconded by Barbara Collis, Treasurer.

The original nomination for Brendan’s life membership came from Philippa Jamieson and Marion Thomson.

The Soil & Health National Council consider Brendan a very worthy candidate of an Honorary Life Membership.

Brendan has had a long involvement in organics for well over 30 years.  In particular, he has had a long and loyal association with Soil & Health, and he continues to take an active part in Soil & Health activities and direction.

Brendan’s organic involvement includes studying at the BHU under Bob Crowder, teaching organics at Unitec, organising Soil & Health conferences, and sitting on Soil & Health’s National Council for several years (including as the Association’s president).  Brendan has been on the World Board of IFOAM, was CEO of OANZ for several years and has been involved with BioGro and OrganicFarmNZ.  Brendan is also the Founding Director of Buy Pure New Zealand.

Special General Meeting – Saturday 3 June 2023, 10am to 12pm

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This meeting has been called by the Soil & Health National Council and is open to all members.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the priorities of the Association in the face of steep cost increases relating to Organic NZ magazine publishing, and an ongoing associated budget deficit.

National Council wants to inform and discuss with members the various challenges and options in front of Soil & Health. National Council is also formally proposing an increase to membership fees, to $90 per year. A change to membership fees requires a formal decision of the membership

The meeting is at 10am on Saturday 3 June. You can register below:

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Agenda

  1. Discussion item – Challenges and options in front of Soil & Health. See papers below for more background on this discussion item.
  2. Decision item – Remit: “That the Soil & Health Association adopt a new annual membership fee of $90 per year.”

Background information and papers

What is the situation?

Soil & Health is a charitable incorporated society that provides education and advocacy on soil fertility and organics, and publishes Organic NZ magazine. We have a small staff team and a number of contractors, supported by a voluntary National Council representing members.

The Soil & Health Association has had a structural deficit in it’s finances for several years. This is because magazine cost increases such as paper and postage have not been covered by an increase in revenue. Recently the deficit has been masked by the receipt of two large bequests, and by grant funding received during Covid-19. However the deficit has now reached a point where action must be taken.

What has National Council done so far?

National Council have considered options to reduce the deficit over multiple meeting in recent months. These are outlined in the timeline below.

  • October 2022 – National Council considered the existence of a structural deficit in the finances, as part of preparing the 2023-24 budget which showed a $60k deficit, and commissioned work from the General Manager on options to tackle it.
  • December 2022 – National Council considered the paper “Soil & Health Dec 2022 Budget Presentation”, and agreed in principle a proposal to save money through reducing magazine issues to four per year (saving about $25k) and pursuing additional activities to raise revenue.
  • February 2022 – A new business plan was considered, based on reducing magazine frequency and undertaking alternate activities.
  • March 2023 – A decision was made not to proceed with the new business plan, based on team feedback and concern that the reduction would create a negative spiral of contraction in subscribers and members.
  • March 2023 – National Council made the decision to call an SGM to discuss the matter with members and to propose a raised fee as an alternative way of tackling the deficit.
  • March 2023 – National Council approved an interim budget for 2023-24 to allow the Association to operate, on the proviso the budget would be reviewed after the SGM.

Papers associated with this process are attached:

December 2022 – “Soil & Health current investments and functions“
December 2022 – “Soil & Health Dec 2022 Budget Presentation.”
March 2022 – “Interim approved budget” – note this includes tabs showing budget with 4 issues of the magazine, and budget with 6 issues but a raised fee.

Why have we called an SGM?

National Council have determined that a discussion with the wider membership is the wisest next step. Any change to our functions or structure have major consequences. For example, reducing the magazine frequency is the simplest way to reduce costs but it risks creating a negative trend in our readership and membership.

National Council considers that keeping the magazine at six issues per year is ideal, but is currently not affordable. As an interim measure the Council has therefore approved a status quo budget for the 2023-4 year, which will be reviewed as soon as possible after this SGM.

Increasing the membership fee is considered to be inevitable due to rising costs. The last time the membership fee was increased was in 2019, when the price went from $45 to $55. It is now time to look again at the fees and ask what is the correct level. Part and parcel of the proposal to increase the fee is a recognition of Soil & Health as more than just a magazine. This means we should be setting our membership fee at a sustainable level for the Association to do its work, rather than benchmarking against other magazine subscription prices.

What are the priorities for Soil & Health?

Producing Organic NZ is currently the major activity of Soil & Health as it takes most of the financial resources and person-hours.

We would like to develop other functions such as: increased events and member community-building, advocacy and campaigns, and engagement with local and central government. However resourcing for these functions either has to come from voluntary effort or by diverting existing financial investment or person-hours.

Discussing these options with the wider membership is part of the purpose for this Special General Meeting.

Heavy rain, soil and waterways – what’s the effect and what we can do about it?

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About the video

We all know that heavy rains cause soil loss and runoff. And we understand these are harmful to fresh water and the wider environment.

But many farmers, gardeners and land owners are unsure about where to start fixing these problems.

Join Philippa Jamieson, former editor of Organic NZ magazine, in conversation with soil scientist Charles Hyland and freshwater ecologist Dr Mike Joy as they discuss some of the mechanics of these problems and the relative virtues of various solutions.

This webinar aims to empower the organic community to intentionally manage their soils in order to achieve their sustainability and environmental goals.

About the panelists

Charles Hyland is a soil scientist and biogeochemist who moved to NZ in 2013 after working at Cornell University in the USA as a scientist for over ten years.  His career has focused on identifying complex environmental problems associated with agricultural systems and implementing effective innovative solutions. Organic agriculture has always been central to his work and worldview.

Mike Joy began lecturing at Massey University in ecology and environmental science in 2003. After seeing first-hand the decline in freshwater health in New Zealand, he became an outspoken advocate for environmental protection. He has been working for two decades at the interface of science and policy in New Zealand with a goal of strengthening connections between science, policy and real outcomes to address the multiple environmental issues facing New Zealand.

Goodbye Glyphosate! Rethinking Weeds

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Learn how to eliminate glyphosate and other harmful herbicides.

This recording is available to members, below. Please log-in using the email associated with your membership. If you have trouble logging-in please contact our team by email: info@organicnz.org.nz

About the video

This webinar is part of the Soil & Health Association’s campaign to strengthen regulation of glyphosate: https://soilandhealth.org.nz/glyphosate/

Join Philippa Jamieson, former editor of Organic NZ magazine, in conversation with Dr Charles Merfield and Mike Palmers who will discuss the way we think about and experience the plants we call “weeds”, and offer some organic, non-chemical and agro-ecological ways of managing them.

Followed by questions and discussion about practical weed solutions for your home garden, small block or farm.

The panelists

Dr Charles Merfield is head of the BHU Future Farming Centre and Merfield Agronomy Ltd. He has a particular interest in physical and ecological weed management.

Mike Palmers is an organic landscape gardener, he is currently a member of Soil & Health’s national council, and has served on the board of BioGro.

Video series

Suggested donation $10 – funds go towards Soil & Health’s glyphosate campaign. Make your donation by credit card: https://soilandhealth.org.nz/donate/#!form/Donate

Or transfer funds to our account: BNZ Account number: 02 0108 0058415 001