Wellington.Scoop
Two Wellingtonians have become Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit in today’s New Year Honours List:
Sue Chetwin, for services to consumer rights.
Having begun her career in journalism, Ms Chetwin was editor of the Sunday News from 1994 to 1998, the Sunday Star-Times from 1998 to 2003, and founding editor of the Herald on Sunday from 2003 to 2005. As Chief Executive of Consumer New Zealand from 2007 to 2020 she successfully campaigned for many important consumer law reforms, including prohibitions on unfair contract terms, fairness in consumer credit contracts, country of origin labelling, and controlling door knockers. She has led other successful campaigns on behalf of consumers including calling for mandatory standards for sunscreens, helping to regulate mobile truck shops, and calling out businesses on misleading claims such as greenwashing. Her commitment to consumer rights have contributed to New Zealand having a strong consumer protection ethos
Ross Giblin/Stuff
The founders of Commonsense Organics, Marion Wood and Jim Kebbell, have been recognised in the New Year Honours. “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 said. “That’s what we are delighted about, that in fact organic farming is being recognised in New Zealand.” Wood was born into organic growing, with a mother who gardened organically and who helped them find their plot of land while they were still living in Wellington. “My husband was extremely sceptical at first, and it was only when he discovered that Shell Oil were pouring their fossil-based fertilisers on our seeds that he thought, maybe there’s something in this organic rubbish,” Wood said.