The Green Party says the government's refusal to grant licences for industrial hemp cultivation is short-sighted, narrow minded and runs contrary to its own rhetoric.
The policy was revealed by Health Minister Wyatt Creech in response to a written question from Green Party Co-leader, Rod Donald. He said "the Government is opposed to granting licences to people wishing to cultivate hemp for industrial purposes in New Zealand".
Wyatt Creech said the decision was reached after Bill English (Minister of Health at the time) had consulted relevant ministers and the National party caucus.
"The government's refusal to grant licences for growing hemp is simply ridiculous," Rod Donald said.
"They obviously fear that industrial hemp plantations will somehow make it easier for people to grow dope for smoking. If that was the case, why are 29 countries, including Australia, now either testing hemp or growing it on a commercial scale?
"Their decision effectively rejects the September 1997 recommendation of the Ministry of Health's chief regulation and safety advisor that trial plots be allowed for research purposes and it makes a mockery of Labour Department funding given to the Motueka Employment and Small Business Centre to assess the feasibility of growing hemp in the Nelson region.
"Just this week the Minister of Enterprise and Commerce, Max Bradford, talked up the government's 5-point plan to boost New Zealand's economic growth. Two of those points were 'ensuring regulations and laws support and not frustrate innovation' and to 'actively promote success and help build a culture supportive of innovation and enterprise'.
"If the Government is serious why is it stomping on what could become a major industry for New Zealand, generating both export earnings and jobs?
"I feel especially sorry for the Motueka group which have put so much effort into researching and promoting hemp in the hope that it could replace the earnings which were lost when the local tobacco industry closed down.
"They have been waiting for 18 months while successive Health Ministers have sat on their hands on this issue. The decision is a kick in the guts for their community.
"New Zealand has lost a major opportunity because of National's irrational behaviour. Just before Christmas the South African government announced it was investing 25 million rand to set up its own hemp industry.
"We have probably missed our chance to become the Southern Hemisphere's primary hemp growing nation but the issue is still definitely worth pursuing.
"I would urge the many farmers who are keen to trial hemp to contact their nearest National MP to let them know that they would like the chance to diversify into hemp," he said.
Rod Donald says he has already requested a meeting with the new Minister of Health, Wyatt Creech, to ask him to reconsider the decision.
Hemp is commercially grown in countries such as China, France, Spain and India while England, Holland, Germany, Canada and Australia are all conducting hemp trials.
The hemp plant contains fibres, oil, resins and protein which are made into an enormous range of commercial products including fine quality papers, wood substitute and construction products, food, fabric and clothing, footwear, bio-fuels, hemp plastic and body care products.
As an annual renewable crop hemp has tremendous advantages over fossil fuel derivatives and products made from de-forestation.
New Zealand currently imports hemp products worth over $1 million and the export potential of hemp products is considerable. Every part of the plant can be made into something with jobs being created from cottage industries right through to large-scale processing.
For comment please contact: Rod Donald on 04 470 6660 or 025 507 183 Brian Coulter, Motueka Employment & Small Business Centre, Ph 03 5444 353 Peter Smale, Horticultural Scientist, 03 528 9049 Kerry Marshall, former Tasman District Mayor, 03 544 9977 or 025 435 393 Mac McIntosh, Hemp Industries Assn, 04 938 4879
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