The Luxon Government wants to remove GE safeguards and let GMOs free. Greenpeace isn’t the only one who is ringing the alarm bells.

It’s not everyday you’ll find Greenpeace, NZ First, and Fonterra on the same side of an issue. But that’s exactly what’s happening with the Government’s controversial Gene Tech Bill – a plan so radical that environmentalists, key exporters and coalition partners are all sounding the alarm

And when unlikely allies line up like this, it’s worth paying attention. So what’s going on?

The Gene Tech Bill, introduced by the National-led Government, proposes radically deregulating genetic engineering (GE) in Aotearoa.

If passed, the Bill would allow genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to be released into the environment – with no risk assessments, no oversight, no tracking, and no accountability. It would even allow GE experiments to be done outside of labs and with no expert supervision.

This isn’t about medical research in controlled lab facilities – that’s already allowed under current law. This is about giving the green light to foreign venture capitalists to come and use Aotearoa as a testing ground for risky GE experiments that aren’t allowed elsewhere.

No going back

The thing about releasing GMOs into the environment is that once it’s done, there’s no putting the genie back in the bottle. If a GMO spreads to neighbouring farms, native bush, or marine environments, the consequences could be permanent. It’s not just about what’s safe today – it’s about what can’t be undone tomorrow.

And it’s not just Greenpeace raising the alarm. AgResearch, in its submission, confirmed that if a gene-edited ryegrass were released, there’d be “no practical way” to control its spread.

Both Fonterra and Dairy NZ raised concerns with the Bill and warned of risks to New Zealand’s export economy. If our exports – like dairy or produce – are accidentally contaminated with unregulated GMO material, key trading partners could deny the shipment at their border. 

That could cost the economy billions, and damage our international reputation.

What exactly does the Bill propose?

If passed as is, this Bill would take Aotearoa from a GE-free nation to a place with one of the most lax regimes in the world. Let’s break it down quickly:

  • It would allow powerful gene-editing tools to be used outside the lab to create GMOs, not just plants but also animals by anyone, anywhere.
  • It would introduce exempt categories of GMOs that would be allowed to be released into the environment with no risk assessment, no tracking and no regulation. 
  • It would remove New Zealand’s ability to decide its own GE rules, by adopting Australian exemption schedules into our law, that could change without public input here.
  • It undermines Te Tiriti o Waitangi, by failing to involve Māori in decisions that could have long-term impacts on them and the ecosystems of Aotearoa.

One gene-editing technique the Government wants to completely exempt (i.e let anyone do it anywhere, outside the lab) is called SDN-1. It is a powerful GE technique that can cause unintended mutations, and introduce foreign DNA into the genome of a species.

In one famous case, a biotech company in the US used SDN-1 to genetically engineer cattle. Despite the company claiming it was all fine, the FDA later found they had accidentally introduced two antibiotic resistance genes from bacteria into the cattle.

Where’s the Bill at now?

The Select Committee has finished reviewing the Bill and recommended some changes – like creating a New Zealand-specific exemption list instead of using Australia’s. But the changes don’t go far enough. The core risks remain.

The opposition parties Labour, the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori won’t support the Bill. But now, even NZ First, a coalition partner, has pushed back, saying the Bill is “too liberal, beyond our key trading partners, and lacks strong safeguards”. The party has made it clear that unless there are major changes, it won’t support the Bill into law.

This is a critical moment

The future of GE in Aotearoa is being decided right now. This dodgy Bill is on the rocks.  If enough of us speak up, we can stop this risky Bill for good. Email your MP today and tell them you oppose the Gene Tech Bill.
Let them know you want GE to stay in the lab – not in our food, farms, or wild places.