We’re actively engaged in public and government work to improve soil and health conditions in New Zealand.


Letter to Ministers and MPs: Seizing the opportunities of organic regenerative farming
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Letter to Ministers and MPs: Seizing the opportunities of organic regenerative farming

A remit passed at the 2022 Soil & Health AGM calling for advocacy on climate change action through organic regenerative farming. The following letter was sent to Ministers and MPs on 18th April 2023. To:Hon Damian O’Connor MP, Minister for Primary Industries;Hon James Shaw MP, Minister of Climate ChangeChris Luxon MP, Leader of the OppositionTodd…

Submission of the Soil & Health Association on the Therapeutic Products Bill

Submission of the Soil & Health Association on the Therapeutic Products Bill

The Therapeutic Products Bill is intended to replace the Medicines Act 1981 and Dietary Supplements Regulations 1985 and brings natural health products (NHP) into the regulation system for health products within Aotearoa/New Zealand.  Read our full submission here. Summary of our submission This submission from Soil & Health focuses on the regulation of natural health products. …

Submission of the Soil & Health Association on definitions for gene technology and new breeding techniques

Submission of the Soil & Health Association on definitions for gene technology and new breeding techniques

The Soil & Health Association welcomes the opportunity to submit on this proposal to revise and update the definitions in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) for ‘food produced using gene technology’ and ‘gene technology’, to make them clearer and to better reflect existing and emerging genetic technologies, including new breeding techniques…

Submission of the Soil & Health Association on the Emissions Reduction Plan

Submission of the Soil & Health Association on the Emissions Reduction Plan

Our submission focuses on agriculture and organic waste and states that more can be done, sooner, by supporting a faster transition to regenerative organic farming.  Emissions from organic waste and from agriculture can be managed down together, through conversion of farming to regenerative organic systems alongside better organic waste collection and processing for composting and…

Climate Commission draft advice to government, Autumn 2021

Climate Commission draft advice to government, Autumn 2021

Summary of our submission In general we support the spirit of this first Climate Change Commission (CCC) report, but we want strong and decisive action, and we want it more quickly than the report recommends. We think that the Commission’s proposed budgets need to be substantially enhanced to create greater emissions reductions over the next…

The Organic Products Bill

The Organic Products Bill

Summary of our submission The Soil & Health Association is focused on the following 10 points: ‘Organic’ is not defined in the Bill and is therefore open to misinterpretation. We propose that the full IFOAM definition and principles of organic agriculture be written into the Bill. Exclusion of GMOs: The use of genetic modification is…

Aotearoa New Zealand | Policy Proposals on healthy waterways: Are they fit for purpose?
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Aotearoa New Zealand | Policy Proposals on healthy waterways: Are they fit for purpose?

Excellent water quality is of paramount importance for our Treaty obligations, agriculture, tourism industry, health and sense of national identity. In September 2019 the Ministry for the Environment released its proposals for dealing with the crisis in our freshwater: Action for healthy waterways. While the document outlines possible ways of ‘reducing soil loss, reducing nutrient…

Hazardous substances assessments: Improving decision-making

Submission to the Ministry for the Environment: Date: September 20, 2019. Discussion Document: Hazardous substances assessments: Improving decision-making – A discussion document on proposed improvements to assessments and reassessments of hazardous substances.  Publication reference number:  ME 1426   The Soil & Health Association support the New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (NZEPA) using a trusted regulator…

Submission on application APP203660 To reassess methyl bromide

29 August 2019 Environmental Protection Authority Private Bag 63002 Wellington 6140 New Zealand Submission on application APP203660 To reassess methyl bromide Introduction 1.   The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand Inc. (“Soil & Health”) is a charitable society registered under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908. It is the largest membership organization supporting organic food…

Submission on Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill

INTRODUCTION The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand is the largest membership organisation supporting organic food and farming in New Zealand and one of the oldest organic organisations in the world, established in 1941. The Association receives no government or other official support, nor is it sponsored or supported by any commercial organisation, political…

Submission on Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001 review

Submission on Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001 review

Introduction 1. The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand Inc. (“Soil & Health”) thanks the Ministry for Primary Industries for the opportunity to comment on the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001 (“DIRA”) review and specifically the ‘Review of the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001 and its impact on the dairy industry’ Discussion Document (“Discussion…

Submission on an organic standard in New Zealand.

Submission on an organic standard in New Zealand.

 11 June 2018   Ministry for Primary Industries PO Box 2526 Wellington 6140   Submission on MPI Discussion Paper N0: 2018/19 Background 1.    The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand Inc. (“Soil & Health”) is a charitable society registered under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908. It is the largest membership organization supporting organic food…

Submission to the EPA on the use of ethanedinitrile (EDN) as a fumigant

Submission to the EPA on the use of ethanedinitrile (EDN) as a fumigant Introduction 1. The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand Inc. (“Soil & Health”) is a charitable society registered under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908. It is the largest membership organization supporting organic food and farming in New Zealand and is one…

Submission on ‘food derived from new breeding techniques’ consultation paper

Submission on ‘food derived from new breeding techniques’ consultation paper

Submission To: Food Standards Australia New Zealand Submission Author: Mischa Davis Thursday, 12 April, 2018 Introduction The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand Inc. (“Soil & Health”) is a charitable society registered under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908. It is the largest membership organization supporting organic food and farming in New Zealand and is one of…

Submission on Draft District Plan for the New Plymouth District Council

Submission on Draft District Plan for the New Plymouth District Council

12th March 2018 New Plymouth District Council Submission on Draft District Plan for the New Plymouth District Council Introduction 1. The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand Inc. (“Soil & Health”) thanks the New Plymouth District Council for the opportunity to comment on the Draft New Plymouth District Plan (“Draft Plan”). This document is…

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Submission Template on Draft Waikato District Plan

16 January 2018 Waikato District Council 2 Dominion Road Tuakau 2121 Submission on draft Waikato District Plan Introduction 1. I make this submission on the draft Waikato District Plan (“Draft Plan”) requesting that it include strong precautionary and prohibitive policies and rules relating to the management of genetically modified organisms (“GMOs”), as allowed under the…

Submission on Proposed Regional Plan for Northland

Submission on Proposed Regional Plan for Northland

Introduction The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand Inc. (“Soil & Health”) is a charitable society registered under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908. It is the largest membership organization supporting organic food and farming in New Zealand and is one of the oldest organic organisations in the world, established in 1941. Soil & Health’s…

Submission on Consumers’ Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill

Submission on Consumers’ Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill

Committee Secretariat Primary Production Parliament Buildings Wellington   Introduction The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand Inc. (“Soil & Health”) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Consumers’ Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill (“Bill”). Soil & Health was incorporated under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 on 4 December 1942. Soil…