Anti-GE protest with a touch of class

By MONIQUE DEVEREUX

Protesting is a civilised activity in Malborough.

What better place to push an anti-GM message than a winery, over samples of the finest wines and nibbles.

About 50 of the region's top winemakers and restaurateurs were at Hunters Vineyard yesterday to endorse purefoodnz, the anti-genetic modification campaign pushed by some of New Zealand's best-known foodies.

The campaign has toured other key areas of food and wine production before the lifting of the moratorium on GM next week.

It is a protest without placards or chants. And even the petitions - large glossy posters sporting flamboyant signatures of the who's who in food and wine - are suave.

The petitions will eventually be presented to Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Yesterday, in the finely manicured garden of her 24-year-old establishment, hostess Jane Hunter urged her fellow winemakers to hold dear the Wine Council's export boast proclaiming its wares to be "riches of a clean green land".

Her plea was backed by Annabel Langbein, top foodie and purefoodnz convener.

She reminisced about her childhood in the 1960s - a time when all food was good and New Zealanders enjoyed one of the highest standards of living in the world.

She was passionate about the cause because she wanted her children and grandchildren to have the opportunity to enjoy delicious New Zealand foods and wines.

This campaign, she told the crowd, should be seen as the "voice of reason", with no political allegiance.

Scheduled speaker Jim Anderton, leader of the Progressive Party, was a last-minute no-show.

His party's new policy made it, though, and the message was delivered by Sustainability Council chairman Sir Peter Elworthy: "New Zealand should keep GM out of the paddocks and crops upon which we all so heavily depend."

It was preaching to the converted. The well-dressed crowd, many in hats and frocks worthy of the Melbourne Cup, were all in favour.

Their cars parked outside with number plates such as GEFREE and ORGANC gave the game away.

Food and wine writer Lauraine Jacobs criticised the Government's consultation process during the moratorium.

"I'm sure none of us have been asked to have our say. I have no idea how to get to talk to a select committee, and I don't think any of you do either.

"But we have a way of being heard through purefoodnz, and we must make damn sure we are heard."

Ms Jacobs said the end of the moratorium was not the time to give up.

Instead the anti-GM message from food producers must be continually brought to the attention of the politicians.

"It's not over. In fact the battle begins next Thursday."

purefoodnz.com