On Saturday 29th November, people across New Zealand came together to protest the Gene Technology Bill at community events in over 25 centres across the country.
“For the Kapiti community, people in Otaki organised one of these protest events on the Old State Highway in the Otaki township”, said local group Stop the Gene Technology Bill Kapiti (STGTB Kapiti) in a press release.
“Many passers-by took information leaflets that were made available. Most were appalled and stated they didn’t know that the Government was proposing to end New Zealand’s present GE Free status.
“The Kapiti community aims to remedy that by organising more events to bring the community’s attention to the fact that the Government is being reckless with our health and future prosperity.
“Saturday 6 December is the annual Kapiti Food Fair at Mazengarb Reserve at the intersection of Scaife Drive and Mazengarb Rd. Kapiti Community members will have signs and leaflets to share with Food Fair attendees, to alert them to the consequences of the Government’s disregard for NZ’s GE Free status, and how their food will be compromised if the Gene Technology Bill is passed.”
“The Gene Technology Bill must be stopped,” said Donna Peters who helped organise the Otaki event.
“The Bill cannot be ‘fixed’ if the intention is to allow Gene Edited Organisms (Genetically Modified Organisms, GMOs) to be released into the New Zealand environment. We must protect nature, farmers and consumers.”
The alarming fact is that the proposed Bill will allow the release of Gene Edited (Genetically Engineered or Modified) organisms in New Zealand out of the lab, where at present they are confined, and which will result in contamination of New Zealand’s flora and fauna, and all our GE-Free exports, the
“The Gene Technology Bill is missing fundamental guardrails to protect the consumer’s right to know what is in their food,” said Greg Rzesniowiecki who helped coordinate the Otaki event.
“There is no built-in protection of New Zealand’s GE-free production or the public’s basic right to choose. The precautionary principle as a backstop to prevent catastrophic mistakes has been removed from the legislation. There is no ethical consideration and no liability on the developers or users of gene technology for any and all harm they cause.”
“Existing GE regulations have protected New Zealand’s environment and production. Exports are booming, NZ has a competitive advantage as a producer of non-GMO conventional and organic foods. Why wreck that competitive advantage?
“Gene edited / GE / GMOs will cause widespread contamination. The scientific fact is they cannot be managed or contained once released.
“New Zealand farmers do not support anything that risks their livelihoods. The biotechnology industry admits that there is no GE co-existence without contamination. Non GE and Organic crops all become contaminated with GE Genes.
“People want the right to know if their food is gene edited. Consumers are becoming more aware and linking health issues with GE food consumption. Food safety is a fundamental issue for New Zealanders. The Government does not have either the people’s or the country’s welfare at heart in pursuing the Gene Technology Bill.
“At present we have an advantage as a GE-free country. This Bill is not a risk New Zealand should be taking. In USA and Australia, GE crops were introduced over 20 years ago and as a result, farmers’ livelihoods have suffered from reduced crop yields over time, spray resistant weeds, sick soils and sick animals.
“Many of these crops were engineered to be glyphosate tolerant. Monsanto-Bayer gamed the studies that found that glyphosate is safe. The cornerstone glyphosate “safety” study has been retracted.
“The NZ Institute of Economic Research has estimated the proposed Bill could result in $10-$20 billion in economic loss for New Zealand each year.
“The health of all New Zealanders and our exports is at stake. The Bill has been made more complicated for MPs as they are often ill informed and advised by lobbyists and scientists with a commercial interest. Their claims are misleading and exaggerate benefits and minimise the huge risks.
“Most New Zealanders oppose deregulation of GMOs as was evidenced by the enormous influx of negative public evidence and testimony to the Health Select Committee considering the Bill.
“The crucial fact is: there is no going back, no way of putting GE/GMOs back in the lab once released into our environment. The genie cannot be put back into its bottle once it escapes.
“Together we must stop the Gene Technology Bill – our children’s future depends on what we do now.”
