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NATIONWIDE CALL TO ACTION against the GENE TECHNOLOGY BILL
Northland protest locations:
Whangarei - Outside Kensington stadium 9am- llam Saturday, 29 November
Kerikeri 12-2pm Saturday, 29 November
Two locations:
Roundabout- State Highway 10 and Kerikeri road
Roundabout- Caltex, Kerikeri road & Hobson Avenue (Kerikeri CBD)
Reckless Gene Tech Bill threatens Northland and Auckland's GM Free Food Producer Region
Reckless Gene Tech Bill threatens Northland and Auckland's GM Free Food Producer Region
https://web.gefreenorthland.org.nz/press-releases/reckless-gene-tech-bill-threatens-northland-and-aucklands-gm-free-food-producer-region
GE Free Northland (in food & environment) Media release 3 November 2025
Find out all about GE FREE Northland
According to an independent study by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER), New Zealand’s primary sector exports could be reduced by $10 - $20 billion annually, if GMOs were to be released into the environment.
The report was commissioned by Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) to evaluate the cost of proposed regulatory changes governing gene technology.
OANZ says that the costs, as well as supposed benefits of deregulating gene technology, need to be carefully considered.
The NZIER study authors note that the proposed changes to the regulations as outlined by Wellington bureaucrats at the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE),
do not include a Regulatory Impact Statement, economic assessment, cost-benefit analysis or address the practicality of "co-existence" of GE and non GE crops..given the known vectors for GMO contamination (seeds, pollen, vegetative material, soils, waterways, machinery, animals, insects, extreme weather events).
The report was commissioned by Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) to evaluate the cost of proposed regulatory changes governing gene technology.
OANZ says that the costs, as well as supposed benefits of deregulating gene technology, need to be carefully considered.
26 November 2024 OANZ media release
Media Statement: "NZ exports risk multi-billion dollar hit if GMO rules deregulated"
"OANZ's commissioned NZIER Economic Report that clearly highlights the economic risks to the country" (26 November 2024)
26 November 2024 NZ Farmers Weekly
Gene shift could cost exporters billions: report
"Researchers flag lack of research from MBIE on financial impact of opening doors to gene editing."
https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/technology/gene-shift-could-cost-exporters-billions-report/
29 August 2024
"Let's cut the crap on gene technology"
by Professor Jack Heinemann
https://www.concernedfarmersnz.org/news/get-out-there-n9t2h-2c3pz-4tsby-ek7wx-e3res-nnleb
Summary recommendations for the Gene Technology Bill- by Physicians & Scientists for Global Responsibility (NZ) .
https://psgr.org.nz/component/jdownloads/send/1-root/166-gtbill-3pager
11 Feb 2025 • Ashburton Guardian
Gene tech bill “a slap in the face to farmers, experts”
https://www.guardianonline.co.nz/news/gene-tech-bill-a-slap-in-the-face-to-farmers-experts/
Concerned Farmers NZ
30 January 2025
"The Risks of GMO Deregulation to NZ Farmers"
"There is no ban on gene technology in NZ. This misleading hyperbole is used to obscure a failure to engineer products that will have a market or social value that exceeds the cost of compliance with reasonable regulations."
- Professor Jack Heinemann, Genetics/ Molecular Biology, Canterbury University, and director- Centre for Integrated Research in Biosafety
National Party previous attempts to strip local councils of their authority and jurisdiction, falsely claiming that council plans (Northland, Auckland, Hawke's Bay, etc) prohibited ethical and humane medical research in the laboratory
Radio NZ 2 September 2016
"Environment Minister accused of GMO beat-up"
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/312414/environment-minister-accused-of-gmo-beat-up
"Minister eyes law change to end councils' control over GMOs"
Northern Advocate
5 September 2016
