Soil & Health National Council

The Association's governance body is called the National Council (NC). It usually consists of seven members who are appointed by the membership. NC members are elected for a two-year term.

Dee Pigneguy
Elected for 2011-2013 term


I have had a long involvement with Soil and Health, including writing for the magazine over many years, serving on the National Council and working in the Auckland Office. As a result I have a good understanding of the principles of the association and how it works on a daily basis.

My organic backyard garden including fruit and vegetables, chook and bees provides us with much of the food we need.

My garden is the inspiration for the Organic Gardening classes I run throughout the year, as well as the professional development workshops for teachers.

I am in the process of working with schools in helping them to establish and maintain organic school gardens.

I believe organic gardening is the single most effective action you can personally take to help the planet and much of my work as well as the two latest books published, Growing Gardeners and Feed Me Right, is directed towards establishing the long-term actions that are necessary for a more sustainable lifestyle.

As a National Council representative I will continue working to build an Organic Nation from the grassroots.

Marion Thomson, Co-Chair
Elected for 2011-2013 term

Greetings all, I consider it an honour to be involved with Soil and Health Association of NZ through the National Council and I welcome the opportunity to continue my work with an organisation that has such an inspiring vision. Organic Aotearoa by 2020. Imagine that!

I am involved on many levels with individuals, groups, schools and communities who are all on the pathway to achieving this vision. People that are working to become more self reliant, growing their own organic food, supporting organic growers, buying local, and working towards a lower carbon economy.

I manage the Sustaining Hawke’s Bay Trust Environment Centre, an initiative that is part funded by MfE, Local Territorial Authorities and from our activities. Here we promote a vision of a Sustainable Hawke’s Bay in its rural and urban land use and in everyone’s daily lives!

I promote ecological sustainability on a daily basis through many different projects including: information and education, green waste and food waste recycling, organic certification (OFNZ), organic gardening, green building, restoration projects, working with adults and children, organising seminars, workshops and field-days for farmers and growers, facilitating and supporting other great community initiatives.

I look forward to continuing my work with the priorities of the Association: growing the dedicated membership base, producing Organic NZ, providing essential advocacy on behalf of S&H members and the public on issues of food safety and security.

The Soil and Health Association has the potential to improve and strengthen not only the environmental but also the social and economic framework of Aotearoa.

Steffan Browning
Elected for 2009-2011 term

As Association spokesperson and Co-chair for several years, I would like to maintain our significant current growth in membership and build our Association into a larger campaigning, educational and advocacy force.

My passion and experience for organics and ecological sustainability has included 17 years of BioGro certified vegetable growing as New Zealand’s largest organic glasshouse vegetable growing business, an organic retail shop, and leadership in environmental organisations.

For several years I have been in the BioGro Council and Certification Committee, and Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) Council positions. As your Soil & Health representative at the New Zealand Food Safety Authority, ERMA, MfE and many other organisational forums I have been promoting genuine environmental sustainability and organic production while working hard against genetic engineering and food and environmental poisons. I am working to create an organic nation!