Wairarapa – Wellington

Regional Body – Wairarapa Organics Inc

Wairarapa Organics (WO) is the organisation responsible for OrganicFarmNZ in the Wairarapa, Wellington and the Manawatu.

It is an incorporated society whose aims are to promote and support activities to increase the level of organic production and consumption of organic produce in the Wairarapa Region.

The vision of Wairarapa Organics is to support sustainable producers and consumers of safe, natural, quality produce and services. We are actively stimulating the production of organic produce and livestock within the Wairarapa.

Wairarapa Organics has a Board structure with elected members.

Wairarapa Organics saw the OrganicFarmNZ scheme as an ideal way to further the aims of the organisation and has appointed staff to the (part time) positions of OFNZ Certification Manager, WO Facilitator and Marketing.

Five years down the track we now have 18 registered members under the OrganicFarmNZ scheme of which 10 are within pods and 8 are individuals. We have 9 fully certified OFNZ properties, 6 C2 property, 2 C1 properties and the balance at CO conversion.

We have also been successful in gaining marketing contracts for our growers.

We have run a number of successful initiatives including:

• Organic Banquet
• Field Days showcasing registered properties
• Bokashi and Effective Micro organisms sales
• Workshop exploring the potential to supply certified organic meat resulting in a new supply network for the domestic market
• Conversion to Organic Dairying workshops
• Permaculture Days
• WO logo development
• WO newsletter production four times per year
• Regular stalls at Masterton and Upper Hutt market to supply organic produce to locals

Fees

Membership to Wairarapa Organics Inc costs $30 annually. Financial membership to WO is a requirement if joining the OrganicFarmNZ scheme.

The annual regional fee joining through a pod is $281.25 +GST

The annual regional fee for individuals is $450 +GST

Contacts

The Certification Manager is Claire Bleakley. Phone (06) 308 9842, email p.bleakley@orcon.net.nz

Enquiries about certification should be made to Claire in the first instance.

Board Members: Dave Treadwell, Chair; Rose Burrin, Secretary; Judy Livingston, Treasurer; Steve Hart, Committee

Website: www.wairarapaorganics.org.nz