Organic Pioneers Recognised in New Year Honour List 2021

L-R: Chris Morrison, Jim Kebbell and Marion Wood (image courtesy Maarten Holl/Farifax NZ)

The 2021 New Year Honours in New Zealand rewards and highlights the great work being carried out by Kiwis. This year, 154 people — including three from the organic sector — have been recognised for serving their community or significant achievement.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said a theme of this year's New Year Honours was that the work of those recognised for improving lives continued and amazing achievements despite the challenges of the year, according to RNZ.

Three members of Aotearoa’s organic community were named as being Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit: Marion Wood, for services to sustainable business and the community, James (Jim) Edward Kebbell, for services to sustainable business and the community, and Christopher (Chris) John Morrison, for services to sustainable business and Fair Trade.

Marion Wood and Jim Kebbell

Marion Wood and Jim Kebbell are the founders of OANZ member Commonsense Organics. The couple began their championing of organic food production in 1975, growing organic vegetables in Te Horo, north of Wellington. They opened the first of five Commonsense Organics shops in Wellington in 1991, and now have four in Wellington and one in Auckland.

Marion believes their New Year Honours recognise the importance of organic farming in New Zealand.

“I think [the honour is] a recognition of the huge contribution that organic horticulture and organic food can make to the issues we face today,” Wood told Stuff.

“That’s what we are delighted about, that in fact organic farming is being recognised in New Zealand.”

Chris Morrison

Chris Morrison has founded some of the Southern Hemisphere’s most successful organic and Fair Trade company’s, including Phoenix Organics, All Good Organics and Karma Cola. He has also served on a multitude of organic sector boards and is the current chair of OANZ.

For Chris, New Year Honours is a validation of the significance of sustainability and Fair Trade on both a personal and national level.

“I have always held the belief that regenerative organic agriculture is the only form of sustainable food production that looks after the health of the soil, those that grow our food and those that eat their produce,” said Chris.

Congratulations to Marion, Jim and Chris for the recognition for their years of dedicated hard work to raise awareness about organics in New Zealand.