HempCyberFarm New Zealand

Hemp Cultivation in New Zealand

The situation in New Zealand:

Date: 27 July 2000
To: Matthew@HempWorld.com
From: NORML

New Zealand Moving Towards A Legal Hemp Industry

Auckland, New Zealand: In a statement to the media, New Zealand Custom Minister Phillida Bunkle has given her officials the go ahead to start negotiating with industry representatives to develop trial plots of industrial hemp. Minister Bunkle said that industrial hemp offered a unique opportunity for regional development in New Zealand.

"Industrial hemp trials can be conducted under existing legislation, but it would still need government approval for the product to be grown commercially. If the trials are successful, we envisage removing hemp from the Misuse of Drugs Act and regulating it under the Customs and Excise Act. I am personally convinced that hemp is a wonderful natural product and it presents us with an excellent opportunity for economic development in many regions currently experiencing difficulties," she said. Ms. Bunkle said that the trials could begin as soon as summer.

An inter-government agency has already given approval to industrial hemp and a meeting between hemp advocates and Customs officials will occur on August 21, 2000. Currently, New Zealand imports more than $1 million in hemp products annually.

For more information, please contact NORML of New Zealand, (64) 9-302-5255 or www.norml.nz.nl

Progress on hemp frustratingly slow

Thursday, 27 July 2000, 9:14 am Press Release: Green Party 27 July 2000

Progress on hemp frustratingly slow. The Green Party hopes that announcements today from Health Minister Annette King and Customs Minister Phillida Bunkle that hemp trials could start this summer spells the end of years of procrastination by Government politicians. Annette King announced on Morning Report this morning that an officials working party is about to recommend that farmers will be able to apply for licenses to grow industrial hemp in the near future. Phillida Bunkle said the crops could be in the ground by October.

"It is urgent that the Government makes some firm decisions so that those farmers who are keen to try this new crop can get it in the ground this growing season," said Green Party Co-Leader Rod Donald.

"Even a quick decision will mean the time frame will be tight to bring in seeds and set up the infrastructure for planting, harvesting and processing.

"The hemp industry in New Zealand has been on ice because successive Governments have been unduly influenced by those opposed to its introduction. Meanwhile South Africa has launched a major hemp growing initiative and trials have been underway for several years in Australia.

"It is ironic that the last Government talked a lot about enterprise and initiative and yet refused to allow Federated Farmers to trial this potentially lucrative crop.

"The new Government has been moving at a snails pace, but at least it has been moving. In February it announced that it would support in principle the lifting of a moratorium on issuing licenses to grow industrial hemp which was imposed by National in 1995. But it has taken until now to implement a 1997 Ministry of Health recommendation to set up the licensing criteria," said Mr. Donald.

"The biggest problem with industrial hemp is that because of its high THC cousin it is classed as a controlled drug.

"The current review of the Misuse of Drugs Act could fix the situation by setting a THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) level below which hemp seeds and plants would not be classified as a drug. Then licenses for growing hemp could be issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, where it sensibly belongs, rather than by the Ministry of Health," he said

Rod Donald, MP: 04 470 6660, 025 507 183 Jonathan Hill, Press Secretary: 04 470 6719, 021 110 1133

======= National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, NZ Inc.

Website: http://www.norml.org.nz Email: norml@apc.org.nz Subscribe to NORML News Online! Send mailto:norml@apc.org.nz with 'subscribe' [or 'unsubscribe'] in subject line

60 Queen Street Auckland New Zealand PO Box 3307 Shortland St Auckland 1015 Ph +64 9 302-5255 Fax +64 9 303-1309

Date: Sat, 10 May 1997 11:21:41 +1200
To: Matthew@HempWorld.com
From: Mac McIntosh nzhemp@es.co.nz
Subject: UPDATE.

Dear HempCyberFarm,

Had massive hard disc crash since last em u & as attached may indicate our political agenda has kept me on toes. One of the lessons we learnt from this little flutter of hemp media attn (as to the sustained approach we are working on, is that it showed us we weren't ready if the govt. started to show interest in a positive way. So it is our view that is imperative from our perspective to arrange agencies/access to Agricultural Hemp Seed for NZ farmers if at all possible (can u help?) This may appear cynical business approach, some background, I'm an Idealist/realist who has spent NZ$250-000-00 in the last four yrs. promoting Hemp, money I could not afford, but I don't want to leave my Kids this mess so believe in it etc etc etc (sorry bout soapbox feel necessary to explain. Aligned myself quite deliberately last yr. with 2X ardent capitalists as I realized somewhat belatedly that it took RESOURCES ($) to "fight the good fight!" (here endeth the lesson) (huge grin .... redface)So I've asked for something that u may or may not wish/be able to assist with ....... Is there anything I/We can do for u.The page is getting better & better ...good skills well done.POWER TO THE PEOPLE & shitloads of other overused underutilized euphemisms.Stay safe Sane Health N cool MM. MacTo: AA Greg CobbFrom: Mac McIntosh <nzhemp@es.co.nz

NZ PRESS RELEASECc: AA Richard B.Bcc: Warren BrysonDate: Thu, 08 May 1997 17:15:58 +1200
To: "C. Penn" <hempstrs@wco.comFrom: Mac McIntosh <nzhemp@es.co.nz

Candi,following for yr info/ distribution if you wish. Originated from a HempIndustries Marketing Board of NZ Ltd press release, was picked up by NZPress Assn & regurgitated like this & RUN IN MOST NZ DALIES.Been getting a few good contacts thru HIA, our thanks.rural-hemp NZ HEMP LOBBY SEEKS POLITICAL BACKING FOR LEGAL DOMESTnzpannrx nt 662r n,,RURAL 07-05 229RURAL-HEMPNZ HEMP LOBBY SEEKS POLITICAL BACKING FOR LEGAL DOMESTIC CROPS.By KENT Atkinson of NZPA.

Wellington, may 7 NZPA-

Hemp marketers say they are seeking political backing to legally grow non-drug cultivars of cannabis as an environmentally friendly, sustainable, renewable resource crop.Hemp Industries Marketing Board chairman Mac McIntosh said board staffwere today approaching politicians in Wellington with information advocating the use of hemp fibres for paper and textiles and Hemp-seed oil as a clean burning fuel, and in health products.

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters had been very supportive, as well as Northland MP John Carter and labour Leader Helen Clark, Mr McIntosh said."And the Minister of Health, Bill English, is quite positive""Interestingly, the Minister of Agriculture, Lockwood Smith, was not very supportive and said it would be years before the issues were worked through"Dr Smith gave no indication of his key concerns, but it was obviously the association in public perceptions of industrial hemp with illicit use of marijuana as a drug;

Mr McIntosh said."It looks as though hemp is continuing to suffer from decades of bad publicity, false information and an association with the drug underworld."he said.Unlike its better-known illegal cousin, industrial hemp contained negligible amounts of the psychoactive substance tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)MORE WGT kcaWith only trace amounts of the THC responsible for the "high" that cannabis induces, the tough-fibred stalks, fragrant leaves and sweet tasting seeds had been increasingly used overseas as raw material for paper, fabric, bread and even home flooring.Mr Mcintosh said industrial hemp looked like becoming the "eco crop" of the century, and could become a "multi-billion dollar industry" in New Zealand, capable of providing huge economic growth in rural areas suffering from depressed prices for traditional products.The marketing lobby had already had approaches from Japanese companies wanting to grow industrial hemp in New Zealand for paper making.

But first the government would have to change the law so that non-drug cultivars of cannabis sativa could be legally grown, with THC contents of less than 1 percent, rather than the 3 percent to 16 percent in illicit crops of cannabis sativa or cannabis indica.In Europe, the European union paid farmers subsidies of up to $US340($NZ1200) a hectare to grow industrial hemp from 12 approved strains of seed.

"New Zealand must become part of hemp's renaissance as unique manufacturing and export opportunities now exist that would have far reaching benefits to both our rural sector and overall economy." he said.The Hemp Marketing Board had been formed to help the development of hemp-related businesses as to act as a conduit , bringing retailers,wholesalers, manufacturers, importers, farmers and other interested parties together."There was an obvious need for a professional organisation to facilitate commerce in hemp" he said.Mr Mcintosh said politicians appeared to need educating on the difference between cultivating hemp for industrial uses and growing cannabis for illicit drug use.

The perceptions were confused by manufacturers of jeans and other products cynically exploiting the illicit image of marijuana in marketing to young people textiles that included small amounts of industrial hemp.He said it was crucial that the Government Legitimised the growing of hemp with less than 1 percent THC, and that was the immediate focus of the industry.

But there was also scope for the marketing board to coordinate commercial opportunities for legitimate growers, especially in light of the fact four states in Australia had legalised farming of industrial hemp and paper manufacturers were building a big plant in NSW to process hemp.Hemp production was outlawed in New Zealand in 1933, but the lobby had placed an application with the Ministry of Health for law changes, on behalf of farmers throughout the country who wanted to get crops in the ground.Regions where farmers were showing a lot of interest in industrial crops included Northland, Gisborne, Southland.Mr Mcintosh said New Zealand had signed a United Nations convention which said drug laws should not be applied to the growing of industrial hemp for fibre or seed for horticultural purposes.The industrial hemp lobby was prepared, for the time being, to continue"going through channels" to seek the necessary political changes, but if the issue was dragged out the Government might have to be confronted with the United Nations convention.Because hemp was a temperate-climate crop, it could become a key export earner within a decade, revitalising the ailing rural economy, said MrMcIntosh.NZPA WGT kca

(Mac) my comment Ken neat supportive guy.Have u experienced reading an article, with quotes by a guy with exactly the same name as u on exactly the subject your interested in & wondered how"this other guy got key points so wrong" if only he'd talked to u first,SIC SIC SIC.Nonetheless best intentions & only few areas of minor concern.Sure stirred a minor Hornets nest up.D.J.(Mac) McINTOSH. Chairman encompassing PR & R&D,HEMP INDUSTRIES MARKETING BOARD OF NEW ZEALAND Ltd.P.O.Box 11-015 Ph.+64 4 801 9230. 0800 HEMP.Wellington, Ph.+64 4 382 8607.New Zealand. Fax.+64 4 385 4855.Email: nzhemp@es.co.nzDirect to writer not office: Ph/Fax +64 3 415 8888.Member: HIA (USA) IHA (Holland) pres NZ Hemp Industries Assn Inc.ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, SUSTAINABLE, RENEWABLE, RESOURCE.HEMP FOR A FUTURE!Promoting the Economic, Environmental, Health & Social Benefits of HEMP!!!!!

Question from HCF: What's happening with New-Zealand, is it legal now or do you need a permit?

Answer MM: You need a permit & they will not issue any for last 4 yrs, we are currently promoting public debate & legal challenge just finished open letter to Minister of Ag & have some media on side(can't send u letter till end of week in wps as owe minister courtesy of seeing it first, letter explains a lot re NZ scene & tries to coerce/embarras Minister into being HEMP champion. (fingers crossed.

Up to now we have had to apply for liscence to our MINISTER OF HEALTH. neat aye! now we Know your there I will do what I can to co-ordinate help & donations, seed gene bank support is a favourite of mine too, but don't expect too much almost exhausted my personal finances fighting this insane law for last 7 yrs.

Will bring u up to play as events occur & provide background later this week if I can but haven't the time to do it & u justice right now. Heaps farmers NZ want to gro & privately all but 1 politician I've talked to want to support & decriminalise Marijuana to pave the way but too scared of public reaction, my response "well you've spent there money telling them bullshit for 50 yrs bout time u spent some more telling them the real story. & what the hell has that got to do with Hemp (I'm grinning inside when I tell them that because I know the answer but put right it makes them squirm.)

The truth is our politicians REALLY DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HEMP, despite my Hempmobile being on the steps of parliament for a day last yr during our elections, they simply cant get their heads round it but with NSW in Australia finishing their Hemp trials, giving the green light to Hemp Crop in most of the state & proposing a Hemp Pulp mill in the Hunter Valley to supply paper to Japanese they have given us a TOOL that just might get us there SAFE N SANE N HEALTHY N COOL U MM Mac

HCF: Many thanks for your contribution,
Matthew

Do you know more about this? e-mail us at Matthew@HempWorld.com

Hemp facts and links related to New Zealand:

California & Pacific Hemp Company

Do you know more about this? E-mail us at Matthew@HempWorld.com

*Industrial-Hemp has no psychoactive properties following definition of the European Economic Community (EEC); THC content is less than 0.3%. In general, low THC-seed varieties without psychoactive properties are those that have a THC content of less than 1%. (See also No-THC Hemp-seed.) THC= Delta-9 TetraHydroCannabinol.