MPI UPDATE: July 2022

July Update by Tiffany Tompkins, OANZ CEO

Tiffany and MPI's Organic Team Project Manager, Tina Murphy, meet every other Monday to discuss the needs of the Organic Sector. This regular meeting creates an opportunity to address OANZ member issues or questions related to the Bill, regulations or standard. If you have any questions or concerns you'd like OANZ to address, don't hesitate to contact Tiffany here.

Upon OANZ's request, MPI has started an e-newsletter to help keep the Organic Sector informed about its progress and announce dates and other expectations. The first e-newsletter went out on 17 June, and Tiffany has since provided feedback about it and how OANZ might help with future communications.

View the first edition of MPI’s newsletter here.

OANZ correspondence about the first newsletter included:

1. Feedback on the newsletter's title and positioning. The newsletter needs to state who sent it and why. Organic News by itself as a title was confusing to many people.

2. The Advisory Council should have been written as the Interim Advisory Council

3. Clarity about the newsletter mailing list. The MPI list includes individuals that are a part of the Sector. This is not a large broadcast to anyone and everyone.

It is also important to note that anyone that asks to be nominated to the Working Groups will be vetted. All participants must be active in the Organic Sector and not there as spectators. OANZ has been on-hand to answer working group questions and help identify representation gaps. OANZ's goal is to make sure there is a credible representation that covers the entire Sector.

Next steps:

1. If you would like to receive MPI's newsletter, please email OrganicsConsultation@mpi.govt.nz

2. The Organic Sector Strategy Bill, Regs and Standard Action Group will meet on 14 July at 1:00 pm. Anyone can join; RSVP to Dawn here for the invite.