2025 Chair’s annual report
This content is member only until after the 2025 AGM.
LINK to the main AGM page is here.
2025 AGM of the Soil & Health Association
The 2025 AGM will be held from 10am-12pm on Saturday 27th September 2025, online.
In attendance will be Soil & Health’s National Councillors, NC candidates, Organic NZ newsletter editor and Soil & Health administrator. We welcome all members to join us to review the 2024/25 year.
If you are unable to attend and would like to send your apologies, please email manager@organicnz.org.nz.
The meeting will be conducted according to our constitution.
Register
Please register your attendance here on this page. The zoom meeting link will be sent to current financial members who register. If uncertain of your membership status please contact info@organicnz.org.nz, or to renew or join please go to the join up page.
Non-members may attend at the discretion of the meeting – please contact info@organicnz.org.nz
Register for 2025 Annual General Meeting
Agenda
- Welcome and Notice of General Business
- Confirmation of Facilitator, Minute Taker and Returning Officer
- Acceptance of Agenda
- Attendance and Apologies
- Confirmation of the Minutes of the 2024 AGM
- Introduction of Voting Section
- Nominees for National Council
- Nominees address to members
- Questions to nominees
- Voting
- Reports
- Financial & Audit Report
- Chair’s Report
- General Business
- Organic Week 1-7 May 2026
- Closing
Links to Meeting Papers
Financial & Audit Report FY 2025
2025 Election of National Council
There are seven positions available on National Council, and each councillor is elected for a two-year term.
Of the current councillors, Charles Hyland (current chair), David McNeill (treasurer) and Richard Wallis continue the second year of their terms. Their biographies can be read here.
Leane Makey will step down at the AGM. This leaves four positions open for election at this year’s AGM.
The nomination period has now closed. However the NC can co-opt members during the year, so further nominations or recommendations at the meeting are welcome. The following nominations have been received:
- Asha Andersen, nominated by Brendan Hoare, seconded by Di Maxwell.
- Rebecka Keeling, nominated by Philippa Jamieson, seconded by Charles Hyland.
Candidate Details
Asha Andersen
Hello from the Far North! My name is Asha, and I’m putting myself forward for nomination to the Soil & Health National Council.
I am passionate about sustainable living, health and community. I have many years of experience at a grassroots level building community resilience, both as a volunteer and coordinator. At the governance level, I am currently a trustee and committee member for the Far North Resilient Communities Charitable Trust and Flora and Fauna of Aotearoa.
My passion for nature and our local community has led to hosting long-running, much-loved crop swap gatherings, publishing regular newsletters and working to develop a community garden educational hub, where all ages can learn to garden and connect with nature.
If elected I will work with the Council to provide value for members and impactful advocacy for core values, particularly on pesticides, GMOs and a healthy environment.
Rebecka Bjelfvenstam Keeling
Rebecka Keeling shares her time between Slow Blooms sustainable permaculture flower farm in Matakana and as a communications advisor at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited. 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. 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 has been on the National Council since 2023 and is looking forward to continuing to support Soil & Health in reaching more people with its important messages, while strengthening its profile in the media.
Voting for National Council Members
While we have fewer candidates (two) than vacancies (four), we still encourage you to vote. This ensures a strong mandate and support from our members for these volunteers.
The National Council also has the ability to co-opt members onto National Council or for specific projects.
How to Vote
If attending the AGM online, you can cast your vote during the meeting.
If you are unable to attend the AGM on the day, we encourage you to cast your vote online prior to the meeting by completing this form.
Voting by Post
If you wish to cast a postal vote, please download and complete this form and return it to the postal address provided by Friday 26th September.
Other Votes
Members can vote on three other procedural motions
- Reappointment of the current auditors, who have been very helpful.
- Approve the 2024 AGM minutes as an accurate record of that meeting.
- Approve the 2025 Financials as accepted and adopted.
2024 AGM of the Soil & Health Association
The 2024 AGM will be held from 10am-12pm on Saturday 28th September, by Zoom. Save the Zoom link ahead of time: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86949789513
If you are unable to attend and would like to send your apologies, please email manager@organicnz.org.nz. Thank you.
Register now
Please register your attendance here,
Register for 2024 Annual General Meeting
The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand is holding its Annual General Meeting on Saturday 28th September 2024, from 10am-12pm, by Zoom online.
Please use this registration form to register your online attendance and to receive the Zoom link.
Register direct with zoom by clicking on the button below (you will be redirected to another page to register via Zoom).
Agenda
- Welcome and Notice of General Business
- Acceptance of Agenda
- Attendance and Apologies
- Confirmation of the Minutes of the 2023 AGM and the May 2024 Special General Meeting
- Introduction of Voting Section
- Nominees for National Council
- Nominees address to members
- Questions to nominees
- Voting
- Reports
- Financial Report
- Chairs’ Report
- BioGro Report
- Report from the Auckland branch
- Remits
- General Business
- Closing
Papers
Draft Minutes of the May 2024 Special General Meeting
2024 Election of National Council
The nomination period has now closed and the following nominations have been received:
- Charles Hyland (current National Council Co-Chair). Nominated by Jenny Lux, seconded by Rebecka Keeling.
- David McNeill (current National Council member and Treasurer). Nominated by Jenny Lux, seconded by Charles Hyland
- Leane Makey (current National Council member). Nominated by Jenny Lux, seconded by Philippa Jamieson.
- Richard Wallis, nominated by Sophora Todd, seconded by Jenny Lux.
Candidate Details
About Charles Hyland
Charles Hyland is a current co-chair of the Soil & Health Association of New Zealand and is also the founder of Agriscore, a company that evaluates farm sustainability. He was previously a soil research scientist at Cornell University, focusing on soil fertility, soil health and carbon sequestration. Charles has extensive experience in agricultural extension programs, publishing widely in his field and holding degrees in Soil Science from Cornell. During his tenure, he aims to initiate the opening of new regional branches, enhance our digital presence by launching a comprehensive website that includes a digital archive of Soil & Health’s publications, and develop a variety of multimedia content. These initiatives are designed not only to engage both members and the public but also to generate revenue that will support the growth and expansion of Soil & Health.
About Leane Makey
Leane lives in the Kaipara and describes herself as “grass-roots. Leane is a Hua Parakore (Tipuranga) grower and sheep farmer, with a PhD in environmental science and a science degree in marine biology. Her experience across implementing ecosystem and indigenous environmental management, research and practice brings a unique perspective to the challenges of living with soil and soil futures.
About David McNeill
David is a countryman, formerly at Kingseat in Franklin District. Developing a lifestyle block with avocados, an orchard, amenity & regeneration plantings, vegetable gardens, stock laneways, waterways, terraforming, children, building construction, machinery maintenance, bees and all the many tasks of turning pasture into a productive estate and home. Currently he is exploring NZ, looking for another suitable property.
He is passionate about healthy soil, fresh clean waterways, organic farming, mighty native forests, and the supply chain in providing fresh organic local produce to local communities. Networking with many communities in NZ to see how they organise their local organic sharing.
He has a service business in information technology to provide the funds for maintaining rural land. He also has strong skills and a degree in accounting and financial, from providing & supporting business software.
His intention for S&H is to facilitate local group connections, face to face meetings, seed & knowledge sharing to create strength and resilience through locally grown abundance. Also to help capture knowledge into appealing online content to share through the member network.
For S&H to lobby policy makers & resource controllers on behalf of all members and natural growers on issues that affect the quality of what we grow including air, water, pests & diseases, GM, agri-chemicals, mining, biosecurity, land use regulation, large scale solar, road run off, military training, flood protection, dams and all the many activities that can degrade soil quality and biomass.
All from a sustainable funding base, strong brand and prudent financial management.
About Richard Wallis
After a long career in the law, I changed my focus to composting. I designed and patented the CarbonCycle composting system which is currently in use in nearly 80 schools around New Zealand as a teaching aide for ecosystem function and to provide compost in schools to enhance the soil biology and productivity of school kitchen gardens.
I am also engaged in making large-scale Johnson Su compost, again with a focus on creating a diverse productive soil microbiome for use in New Zealand agriculture and horticulture.
My hope is that I can contribute in a small way to the work of Soil and Health and take an active role in advocating, and gathering support, for a better New Zealand-wide climate policy.
I see this largely involves farming without nitrates and biocides in a way that decreases input costs and improves productivity and farmers’ profitability. I believe these outcomes are driven by the diversity of pastures and by diverse functional soil microbiomes.
These measures, in conjunction with native flora and fauna, in areas that are marginal such as steep slopes, gulleys, riparian margins, and the creation of native plant corridors. The policy will include ceasing to farm drained peatland, which would be re-wetted. The adoption of these remedial measures at landscape scale and watershed units will make New Zealand a leader in sustainable agriculture.
I believe that this agenda closely follows the counsel of Albert Howard in his prescient book “Soil and Health” published in 1944.
Voting for National Council Members
There are 7 positions available on National Council, and each councillor is elected for a two-year term. Of the current councillors, Rebecka Keeling continues the second year of her term. Jenny Lux (co-Chair) and Kaitlyn Lamb will step down at the AGM. Matt Morris has recently stepped down. This leaves six positions open for election at this year’s AGM.
Four nominations have been received for the six positions available. Whilst we have fewer candidates than vacancies, we still encourage you to vote. This ensures a strong mandate and support from our members for these volunteers.
Online Voting
If you are unable to attend the AGM on the day, we encourage you to cast your vote online prior to the meeting by completing this form.
Voting by Post
If you wish to cast a postal vote, please download and complete this form and return it to the postal address provided by Friday 27th September. The form can also be used to cast a postal vote on the remit (refer below).
Remits
There is one remit to be considered at the meeting:
- The National Council is recommending to members that Soil and Health changes its auditor to Kudos Murray Audit to audit the current financial year, ending 31st March 2025.
Background information on the remit
National Council would like to suggest to members that we engage the services of a new charity auditor after two years of service from Moore Markhams. The primary reasons are a) cost and b) timeliness of completion. This and last year’s audits were drawn out, and our AGM was delayed in both cases by not having the audit completed within the desired timeframe. We have done some investigation and obtained competitive quotes from other firms. We have secured a very competitive fixed quote from Kudos Murray Audit. Given the group’s financial challenges, this fits with our push to reduce costs. All auditors are required to be objective and independent, so these things being equal, National Council feels it is important to select an auditor that can provide service within fixed limits, and hopefully within a better timeframe. As we are a Tier 2 Charity, we must be audited each year.
How to Vote on the Remit
If you are unable to attend the AGM on the day, we encourage you to cast your vote online prior to the meeting by completing this form.
May 2024 Survey Results
This survey was sent out to members and past members to receive feedback for Soil & Health and OrganicNZ moving forward.
Please find a summary of the main findings. We have omitted specific comments to ensure the privacy of our respondees.
Please know that we are in the process of going through your suggestions and comments and we thank you for your time and input.
Regards,
The Soil & Health/OrganicNZ Team.
The following content is for members only, to become a member click here or if you are already a member, sign in here.
Special General Meeting – Saturday 4 May 2024, 10am to 12pm
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
- Welcome
- Financial Overview and Discussion
- Election of National Councillors (two positions available)
- 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
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:
- Welcome and Notice of General Business
- Acceptance of Agenda
- Attendance and Apologies
- Confirmation of the Minutes of the 2022 AGM
- Introduction of Voting Section
- Nominees for National Council
- Nominees address to members
- Questions to nominees
- Voting
- Reports
- Chair’s Report
- BioGro Report
- Branch Reports
- Financial Report
- Remit to adopt new Constitution
- General Business
- Nomination of Brendan Hoare for Honorary Life Membership
- Closing
Papers
The following papers were presented to the AGM:
- Chairs’ Report
- Soil & Health Association 2023 Performance Report
- Soil & Health Association Group 2023 Financial Statements
Remits
The following remits were agreed upon at the meeting:
- That the Soil and Health Association membership adopt the Constitution document known as the Constitution of the Soil and Health Association 2022 (the Constitution).
- 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
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
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
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
- That the Soil and Health Association membership adopt the Constitution document known as the Constitution of the Soil and Health Association 2022 (the Constitution).
- 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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