One of the oldest organic institutions was set up in this country in 1941, and so this year marks 80 years since it first began! The New Zealand Soil & Health Association’s motto has always been “Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, Healthy People” – “Oranga nuku, oranga kai, oranga tangata“. As Marion Wood, the current chairperson, says, there can’t be many organisations whose motto is ‘as relevant today as it was 80 years ago’.

The Association has published a magazine since 1942. The publication was renamed as Organic NZ in 2001 and actively and independently advocates organics and sustainable living. Under the helmship of editor Philippa Jamieson, the magazine comes out six times a year and is widely available, and there is also an online subscription available.

Hear more about the New Zealand Soil & Health Association – and find out why a dentist was instrumental in its set up – in this short interview on RNZ with Marion Wood: