Forums find low gene knowledge

By ANNE BESTON environment reporter

New Zealanders are showing a high level of confusion about genetic modification in the lead-up to a formal inquiry.

The Royal Commission on Genetic Modification begins formal hearings in Wellington this month but for the past two weeks it has been holding informal public meetings around the country.

About 70 people were at a Hamilton meeting yesterday. A meeting will be held in Rotorua today.

Commission media liaison officer Sarah Adamson said it had emerged that most people had a poor understanding of the scientific issues involved.

"There is a pocket of people who have been following this for two to three years who are well-informed, but we are finding in most centres the primary part of the population would have a fairly fundamental or non-existent idea of what a gene is, let alone any modification of it."

Ms Adamson said genetic modification of food and crops was the predominant issue coming out of the meetings. The forums had given the commission some idea of what the public was concerned about.

People often attended the meetings to get more information but they were not an education exercise, and some people had become "a little frustrated with us."

The commission was happy with an average of between 70 and 80 people attending the meetings.

"While we might not be getting any great numbers, we are getting very good-quality feedback."

Commissioner Jean Fleming said the concerns were diverse in each region but most highlighted spiritual, ethical and cultural concerns and the need for independent research and education.

The commission starts 14 weeks of formal hearings on October 16 in Wellington.

Herald Online feature: the GE debate

GE lessons from Britain

GE links

GE glossary

GE discussion forum