New Zealand Hemp Industries Association
A sustainable, cost-effective, faster and more efficient way of living By Natasha Parrant
The New Zealand Hemp Industries Association (NZHIA) is helping to raise awareness on the benefits of using industrial hemp in dayto-day life.
Industrial hemp had been illegal for roughly 90 years, as it was seen as a recreational drug. Hemp looks like cannabis, but can’t actually be used as a drug as it contains 0.35 percent or less THC. The government allowed trials between 2000-2005 to ensure people would not grow high THC plants in a hemp field, and to prove that there was no risk of diversion.
NZHIA members are representative of the entire hemp industry ranging from seed growers and processors to retail. Members supply quality products for both local and export markets.
After five seasons of trials, the Misuse of Drugs (Industrial Hemp) Regulations 2006 had been introduced.
The association was founded by Mack McIntosh in 1997. After Mack retired in 2019, an accountant by trade, Richard Barge became the NZHIA chairperson and treasurer. So, what is hemp? Hemp is a herbaceous plant of the species cannabis sativa. Hemp is an annual crop grown between October and December; harvested from March to April. “It’s great in rotation with other crops and can help follow on crops,” Richard says. He also believes it takes nitrogen out of the soil and is a high-quality product, as it has a large amount of biomass created within a short-grown season. Hemp seeds have all amino and fatty acids, which makes it “a really amazing product.”
Hemp is an herbaceous plant of the species cannabis sativa, which contains 0.35 percent or less THC. Photo taken by Anna Harding.
Hemp can make composites and is considered to be a low and high-tech fibre product. A fast-growing crop; naturally resistant to termites, easy to use in construction, and there’s no mould.
bacterial, and growing it can condition soils and remove heavy metals.
The main growers of industrial hemp in New Zealand are based in Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay.
The exterior of a hempcrete house built by Erkhart Construction. Photo taken by Toby Ricketts.
Every part of the plant can be used commercially. The entire hemp plant such as the stalk, leaves, seeds, and buds can be used for fibre, food, and health products. Richard says the NZHIA is motivated to help support the growth and development of the industrial hemp industry in New Zealand because they’re excited about working with a wide-range of people who come from many backgrounds.
A hempcrete house from a distance looks as normal as any other house. Photo taken by Toby Ricketts
The association focuses on four areas of hemp, such as the growers of the plant, the food, fibre, and health end-uses. The association is working towards making sure New Zealanders prioritise using sustainable materials to produce less or toxic waste. Richard says everyone in the association shares similar values and visions of being more sustainable to benefit the environment, regional development, and the economy. “Making those changes is rewarding.” The association believes it’s a good idea to transition away from fossil fuels into industrial hemp, as there are many benefits of hemp. He says during the housing crisis in New Zealand, people should look into using fireproof hempcrete, as it’s a renewable way of building. Benefits of iHemp include healthy food, high-quality fibre that’s anti-fungal and anti-
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The regulations allowed New Zealanders to grow industrial hemp under a license set out by the Ministry of Health. Amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act in 2018 allowed cultivation of low-THC industrial seed food products to be used for sale and consumption.
The NZHIA aims to ongoingly collaborate with iwi and the farming industry, educate the public on hemp developments, make sure regulations are manageable, work alongside the government to ensure their legislation and compliance issues are necessary and updated, encourage environmentally friendly and ethical bio-regional developments and strive to achieve many other objectives. The association are collaborating with the government to aim for the domestic industry to reach $2 billion by 2030, creating 20,000 regional jobs for New Zealanders. The goal was estimated by Dr Nick Marsh in his 2020 strategy document Hemp New Zealand. Richard says “it’s very exciting now, people are quite interested in using hemp”. Hempcrete is a material used for construction and is made up of hemp hurds, which is found inside the stem. Hempcrete is formed around the frames that hold up the roof and provides an internal insulation and external cladding in one process. Richard says hempcrete is useful to build healthier, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective homes. It keeps homes at a reasonable temperature during winter to summer and removes moisture.
New Zealand Hemp Industries Association 61 Moore Street Howick Auckland 021 706 690 admin@nzhia.com www.nzhia.com