ACT and New Zealand First have both expressed major concerns about the government’s Gene Technology Bill, even though they supported the amendments recommended by the select committee.
While all parties agree New Zealand’s gene tech laws “need modernisation”, NZ First warned it would not back the bill without stronger safeguards, arguing it was too liberal and risked the country’s “GE Free” status.
ACT criticised the inclusion of a Māori Advisory Committee and the use of tikanga as a legal standard, calling it too subjective.
Labour cited limited consultation and weak regulatory independence, while the Greens said the bill amounted to radical deregulation that endangered environmental and food safety protections. Te Pāti Māori also opposed the bill and plans to push for changes during the committee stage.
The Gene Tech Bill has been reported back by the Health select committee and is now public.
Here is what New Zealand First stated in our differing view on the bill as part of that report:
New Zealand First’s coalition agreement with National states we are open to liberalising…
— Winston Peters (@winstonpeters) October 12, 2025
Image credit: Sangharsh Lohakare
The voices of concern. Good work Act and NZ First.
Their concerns will evaporate when the emoluments are applied.
So with an election just around the corner and 97% of New Zealander’s rightly opposed to this “Frankenbill” these shitty pricks have seen the writing on the wall and have decided to “cry uncle”.
The fact anyone thinks out current laws need changing regarding GMO is reason enough not to vote for them right there. Trust fucking Labour to change its tune too, watering down its opposition. None of them are trustworthy.
Hypocrites.
None of the parties in parliament are for NZ’s health or the environments natural bounty.
We shall see which of those that oppose the bill actually vote it through, just as they have at select committee
Sounds like it is dead in the water.
Fairly obvious dont F,,,K with nature too much come on winny & David pull the pin f…k woke luxe.
Whoever created this bill is completely out of touch with the public and the food trends around the world, this would destroy farming, are they following UN and WEF instructions again. It’s about time politicians served New Zealand not the globalist that think New Zealand is a great country to experiment with
The bill is not fit for purpose as it is clearly written by chatGpt/ai and is incomprehensible, convoluted and self-contradictory.
Not labelling things is plainly irrational.
If there is one single MP who has truly read the bill end to end and claims to understand the whole thing I would like to meet them.
ACT, NZ First, and all minor parties not in Parliament at this time; DEMAND that this bill be permanently scrapped!
ACT & NZ First must fillibuster this and declare that this bill is not fit for purpose due to the already proven damage to gene-editing tech in other countries.
Nazional and Liebour are NOT to be trusted in the event they ‘backtrack’ on this bill, as you can rest assured that they will bring the same back for it’s third and final reading before the Uni-Party puts this shit into law!
Any one with half a brain can see this dangerous bill is a vote killer.
An IQ test of sorts.
All the minor parties need to do is all say no to this bill together and it does sound like they are mostly on the same page.
Our countries future depends on stopping this bill.
This is the line in the sand, the hill we die on.