The Whangarei and Far North district councils are among a group of local authorities in the upper North Island who have declared themselves GM-free and introduced rules to protect the GM-free status of their areas. GM-free growing regions are Far North, Whangarei, Hastings and Auckland. They want the Maori Party to stop the Government from removing local powers that protect their GM-free growing status. The Maori Party is a coalition partner in the Government. Ngati Kahunaungu chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana said he hoped the Government and the Maori Party would listen to the voice of the regions.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 29, 2017 20:26 UTC