Summarised by Centrist
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters told a crowd at Parliament his party will not back the Gene Technology Bill unless it is “fixed,” stopping short of an outright veto while signalling leverage over the final shape of the reforms.
RNZ reported that about 400 people attended a lawn “picnic” protest as the government pursues looser rules on gene technologies beyond laboratory settings.
Peters framed his stance as conditional and anchored to the coalition agreement. “We don’t go in for absolutism. What we’ve said is this bill’s going nowhere unless we’re satisfied and we’re confident that it doesn’t represent any danger,” he said. “Let me tell you, if the bill can’t be fixed up, it won’t be going ahead.”
Opponents urged New Zealand First to kill the bill outright.
GE Free spokesperson Jon Carapiet said exporters and farmers have been sidelined by a rushed process. He described the select committee stage as a “sham”.
Science Minister Shane Reti welcomed the committee’s report and argued that New Zealand must modernise to remain competitive. “It’s just how we safely do that, how we convey the safety guards and safety rails that people need, that’s the step we’re at now.”
The committee proposes tighter independence for the regulator inside the Environmental Protection Authority, annual reporting, a four-year review, stronger consultation duties including with Māori interests, and clearer lines on what counts as regulated gene technologies.
