Dear John --

Today National announced our policy to end New Zealand’s ban on Gene Editing and Genetic Modification to unlock the enormous benefits for climate change, agricultural production and health. 

Gene technology is being used around the world to treat cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and blood disorders. 

It has been used in New Zealand laboratories since the 1970s, but our restrictive rules put in place in 2003, make research outside the lab all but impossible. This means our scientists have had to head overseas to conduct further research.

GE technology has enormous benefits for fighting climate change. Agriculture accounts for around half of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions. Finding a sustainable pathway to bringing down agricultural emissions without decimating our most important economic sector is a major long-term challenge for New Zealand.

We need to give our farmers the tools and technologies they need to reduce emissions without shutting down farms and sending production to less carbon-efficient farms overseas. This means opening up to GE and GM in a safe and responsible way.

If elected, a National government will: 

• End the effective ban on Gene Editing (GE) and Genetic Modification (GM) in New Zealand.
  
  
• Create a dedicated regulator to ensure safe and ethical use of biotechnology. 
  
  
• Streamline approvals for trials and use of non-GE and GM biotech.

The regulator’s role will be to protect human health and the natural environment and manage ethical concerns while allowing New Zealanders to access the benefits of advanced biotechnology. In New Zealand, human embryonic GE or GM will remain prohibited.

GE has the potential to deliver vast benefits for human health. Recently a 13-year-old in London was cured of cancer using GE. We are opening up new opportunities for advanced treatments here.

GE crops can also be used to resist pests without the use of pesticides, keeping waterways clean. New Zealand is at risk of being left behind with Australia, the UK and the European Union now moving to safely embrace gene technology.

A National government will responsibly open access to the benefits of gene technology in this country. New Zealand can be a world leader in reducing agriculture emissions and benefit from other innovations in health, nutrition and the environment. 

Read the full policy here. 

Judith Collins.
National's Spokesperson for Science, Innovation & Technology. 

PS. To win the next election,  John we need your support. With just 126 days to go, can you help our campaign? Sign up here to volunteer or support our campaign by making a donation here. Every dollar helps fund our campaign to change the government.