Mr Jim Kebbell and Ms Marion Wood, of Otaki, MNZM, for services to sustainable business and the community
Jim Kebbell and Marion Wood bought land in Te Horo in 1975 and named it Common Property, with the aim of growing organic vegetables. They opened the first Commonsense Organics supermarket shop in Wellington in 1991. There are now five Commonsense Organics stores, while Common Property is a professionally run commercial unit of 11.2 hectares. Commonsense Organics has adopted BPA- free till receipts and home compostable packaging. It is a Living Wage employer and the primary supporter of the Porirua School Gardens scheme. Mr Kebbell and Ms Wood are founding members of the Organic Traders Association of New Zealand, and Mr Kebbell was Chair of BioGro New Zealand. Ms Wood is a member of the Fair Trade Wellington Board, and chairs the Soil and Health Association of New Zealand and the Organic Traders Association of New Zealand.