Te Waikoropupū Springs have some of the clearest water ever measured on earth. In 2023, the Springs were protected by a Water Conservation Order (WCO). The WCO gives a special cloak of protection that councils must abide by when considering resource consents.    In late 2025, the Government plans to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA). Federated Farmers is asking the Minister to remove the Te Waikoropupū Springs WCO and all WCOs from the future resource management system. If this were to happen, Te Waikoropupū Springs would be at significant risk from pollution. Te Waikoropupū Springs would also lose the protection the WCO gives if resource consents are sought for mining at Sams Creek. All other precious waterways which are protected by WCOs, would also be similarly at risk. It’s time to draw the line and protect our most precious and endangered waterways.  Sign our urgent petition to protect all Water Conservation Orders!    Water conservation orders | Ministry for the Environment (Includes Te Waikoropupū Springs) Maps: Te Waikoropupū Springs Short video includes: Sams Creek and Te Waikoropupū Springs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgxfTNztNVk

At the time of writing the Luxon Government is pushing the Gene Technology Bill through Parliament. This bill proposes to deregulate the use of GMOs in Aotearoa.  Gene technology and experimentation involves changing, controlling and manipulating the genes of living beings. These can be plants and animals, and invisible bacteria and soil microbes. The objective is to encourage these genes to behave in specific ways, usually for commercial purposes.  It has been used in closed lab conditions for the last three decades. New Zealand’s strict regulations have prevented the contamination of nature and food and our GE Free producer status is of great economic value to food producers. Yet around the world GE technology is undermining food and seed sovereignty. The release of gene edited crops or organisms outside the lab carries significant environmental risks to Aotearoa.  Potential harms include risks to our unique ecosystems and biodiversity and cultural heritage.  GE tech threatens the livelihoods and brand of organic and non-GE growers who would face the threat of cross-contamination. We run a huge risk of contaminating both the natural biodiversity and our actual food supply network. Beyond the Bill risks New Zealand’s global brand of being a clean and green country, which we all depend on in some way.  GE tech is a false solution that companies would use to avoid accountability for good environmental stewardship. While some industries may gain financially from free use of GE tech, there is a lot at stake for other industries.  We call on the Government and all parties in Parliament to tighten regulation of genetic editing by not releasing GMOs into our communities. We encourage using the precautionary principle and not risk what we already have. We should maintain the advantage of high control, much like the bio-control approach we use for our borders to protect agriculture industry and native wildlife.  We also recommend enforcing ‘traceability requirements’ to track GE products in the food supply. This would maintain transparency for everyone, and safeguard New Zealand’s ‘clean, green reputation. Sign our petition to support a safe GE free future! Please also support:  • The Organic NZ campaign for a GE-free future!  • Papawhakaritorito Trust

There are too many clothes in the world! Fast fashion is pumping out huge amounts of cheap synthetic garments that end up in landfills. 🧵 We need to regulate the industry and slow down the giant Corporate overproduction of fast fashion. Fast fashion has created underpriced disposable clothing, and is enabling environmental destruction. Fast fashion is driven by capitalism and corporate profit, which is driving the world’s biggest problems such as the climate, biodiversity and humanitarian crises. The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions 🧵 Fast fashion is second to Oil in its damage to our environment. Oil is currently involved in every part of the production and delivery process of fast fashion, including the creation of the materials (such as polyester and nylon). It walks hand in hand in domination and pollution. Ghana’s desert and other places around the world have become dumping grounds for the worlds throw-away clothes. Microplastics are pouring into our oceans everyday from simply washing our clothes that are made out of plastic. Fast fashion depends on modern slavery. 1 in every 130 women and girls around the world fall victim to modern slavery, and many work in sweatshops in Asia, creating garments for fast fashion brands. 🧵 It doesn’t have to be this way. It’s time for big change. It’s time to honour our environment and our planet and people. We need to prioritise circular design and production systems. We need businesses that honour our environment and life on earth, the natural laws that we operate inside of. We need policies from Government that will control and regulate the industry and put the responsibility back on corporations. The Giants must be stopped. By regulating to slow down fast fashion we can use and appreciate what we have. We can support our local clothes designers and makers.  🧵 Join the rebellion! Sign the petition and demand an end to our part in the harms of fast fashion.  🪡 Links • NZ landfill boss sees alarming rise in clothing waste, 1 News • Steven Junil: 'If NZ stopped importing fabric and clothing, we’d be fine for another 50 to 100 years', RNZ • Recommendations to the New Zealand Government from the Clothing & Textile Industry, 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC5KYX74AP4  Ghana: fast fashion's dumping ground