Whangarei council take cautious approach to GE

The Whangarei District Council has voted to follow the example of the Kaipara District and Northland Regional councils by taking a cautious approach to genetic engineering (GE).

In adopting its annual plan, the council voted to spend up to $10,000 on investigating the issue, defeating an amendment that the council make GE field trials a non-compliant activity in the district plan, giving it the opportunity to veto trials.

A bid to have pensioners living in retirement villages, whose rent is fixed to no more than 25 per cent of their Government superannuation, exempt from a new rate, was also defeated.