Our Year in Review 2025. A Defining Year for Organics
2025 was one of the most challenging and consequential years in OANZ’s history. It was a year of defence and disruption, but also one of leadership, evidence-based advocacy, and renewed direction for the organic sector in Aotearoa New Zealand.
From playing a central role in slowing the Gene Technology Bill, to launching the first updated Organic Market Report in four years, to navigating leadership change and the loss of one of our sector’s founding voices, OANZ remained focused on protecting the integrity, viability, and future of organics.
Here are some of the key moments and achievements from the year.
Playing our part in stalling the Gene Technology Bill
Our most significant achievement in 2025 was our contribution to slowing the Government’s push to liberalise genetic engineering via the Gene Technology Bill.
Through our GE campaign, OANZ helped mobilise more than 15,000 public submissions opposing the Bill. Together, with our supporters and partners, we raised over $200,000 to fund legal advice, economic analysis, and sustained advocacy and education.
Key actions included commissioning an independent NZIER economic report that challenged Government claims and highlighted potential risks to New Zealand’s export reputation, market access, and premium food positioning. We worked hard to highlight the “co-existence” myth, showing that GE and organic (non-GE) farming cannot operate side by side without a risk of contamination and economic harm.
Throughout the year, OANZ met with MPs across parties and engaged directly with multiple government agencies, including MPI, NZTE, the Commerce Commission, and other regulatory bodies, ensuring the organic sector’s concerns were on the record and impossible to ignore.
While the Bill has not been defeated, it has been delayed, scrutinised, and publicly challenged. That scrutiny exists because thousands of people spoke up, and because evidence was placed where it mattered.
OANZ Commends NZ First for Standing Firm against the Gene Tech Bill…
Defending the sector on glyphosate
Alongside the GE campaign, OANZ led strong advocacy against proposals to increase maximum residue limits for glyphosate.
We highlighted the direct risks to organic producers, the cost of contamination, the implications for export markets, and the growing divergence between New Zealand policy settings and key international markets. This work reinforced a clear message, chemical-intensive systems undermine trust, choice, and long-term resilience in food production.
Launching the Organic Market Report
In June, OANZ released the Organic Market Report, the first comprehensive update on New Zealand’s organic sector since 2021.
The report confirmed the sector’s scale and significance, with organic contributing over $1 billion in value, strong export performance, and growing domestic demand despite economic headwinds. It also reinforced what the sector has long known, organic delivers environmental, climate, and market resilience when policy settings support it.
The report has become a critical reference point for government, media, and industry, grounding advocacy in data rather than ideology.
Advocating for a Fair Organic Standard
OANZ continued to work closely with MPI on behalf of the organic sector as the National Organic Standard moves toward implementation.
This included advocating for practical, fair outcomes under the new regulatory regime, particularly regarding cost recovery, to ensure organic operators are not disproportionately burdened. We remained focused on protecting the integrity of the Standard while making sure it remains workable for producers, processors, and exporters.
Shaping a new path forward for the organic sector
Through the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFFF) project, OANZ developed a clear, sector-led pathway for the future of organic and the sector body.
This work is about more than growth. It is about long-term resilience. The project is laying the groundwork for stronger sector alignment, better advocacy, and a shared vision for how organic regenerative systems can contribute to climate, economic, and community outcomes.
Change, loss, and leadership
2025 was also a year of transition.
CEO Tiffany Tompkins exited OANZ after more than six years of service. Her leadership helped position organics firmly within national conversations on climate, trade, and food systems, and her impact will continue to be felt across the sector.
In January 2026, we also lost Jim Kebbell, an organic pioneer and deeply respected advocate whose contribution to organics in Aotearoa cannot be overstated. Jim’s legacy lives on in the standards he helped defend and the values he embodied, integrity, courage, and an unwavering commitment to organic principles.
Looking ahead
The year ahead will be no less demanding.
The Gene Technology Bill remains a live threat, and regulatory reform can move quickly, so we need to remain vigilant. At the same time, the evidence for organic as a solution, economically, environmentally, and socially, has never been stronger, and we need to protect the opportunity and our organic future.
OANZ enters the next year clear-eyed, evidence-driven, and committed to holding the line for organics while building a credible, resilient future for the sector.
Thank you to our members, donors and partners. This work only happens because of collective action.