Key Findings from the Wellington GE Delegation – Join Our Webinar on November 7th

In October, a delegation from Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) met with key government officials and stakeholders in Wellington. These discussions aimed to clarify the government’s planned updates to GE regulations and their potential impacts on New Zealand’s organic sector. With the delegation of experts and organic advocates, including representatives from science and horticulture, we engaged with ministers, ministries, and the Primary Production Select Committee to voice our concerns and push for organic sector inclusion.

The meetings yielded five main findings that highlight the risks of the proposed GE regulation changes:

  1. Rushed and Flawed Process: The government’s approach to gene technology regulations has excluded key stakeholders, including the organic sector, and lacks transparency.

  2. Radical Regulatory Shifts: With minimal oversight over GE technologies, New Zealand could become an international outlier, risking environmental and economic consequences.

  3. Misunderstood Science: Decision-makers’ limited grasp of the complex science behind gene technology raises concerns about informed policy-making.

  4. Lack of Economic Analysis: No economic impact assessment has been conducted, potentially leaving the organic sector to shoulder unforeseen costs.

  5. Ignored Agroecological Solutions: The government has overlooked organic farming’s proven solutions to key environmental and health challenges.

Don’t Miss Our Webinar on November 7th
Join us at 7.30 pm on November 7th to delve deeper into these findings, learn what they mean for New Zealand’s organic sector, and discover ways you can contribute to protecting our environment and economy from unchecked gene technology liberalisation. Register Now >

Call to Action
Download the full Summary of Findings document and register now to reserve your spot in the webinar. This advocacy work is made possible by the generous support of our donors and members. If you want to get involved, we encourage you to share this message with your networks and support our fundraising campaign to raise $60,000 for a nationwide public awareness campaign.

Together, we can protect New Zealand’s organic future and ensure that GE technologies does not compromise the safety and sustainability of our food systems.

WATCH THE ORGANIC DELEGATION PRESENT TO THE PRIMARY PRODUCTION COMMITTEE ON 24 OCTOBER 2024



Louise Vicente