For nearly three decades, New Zealand’s strict regulations around genetic modification have more or less confined research opportunities to the lab. [On August 13, 2024], the government confirmed legislative reform was on its way.

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Politically, GM has been a highly contentious issue in New Zealand, culminating in a scandal that came to be known as “Corngate”…. This was a time of major debate about the safety of GM crops, which much of the environmentally minded left saw as a dangerous, unproven practice that risked our clean, green reputation. While science has essentially settled in favour of GM, it has remained a somewhat politically untouchable subject in Aotearoa.

There will be tiers of risk: gene modifications indistinguishable from changes that could be achieved through selective breeding or natural mutation [gene editing] will be considered low-risk and fall under no regulation.

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[L]oosening the regulations will allow researchers and companies to develop and sell products (like a certain kind of crop) or healthcare treatments (like CAR T-cell therapy). The use of gene technology could help the agriculture sector mitigate emissions and increase productivity.

[T]he legislation will be introduced to parliament by the end of the year.

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