17 August 2001
Green MP backs Hurunui mayor
Green MP and Agriculture Spokesperson Ian Ewen-Street today said he fully supports Hurunui Mayor John Chaffey in his
call for New Zealand to be 'environmentally free' of genetically engineered organisms.
Mr Ewen-Street said he agreed with Mr Chaffey's statement that research and experiments with genetic engineering could
spell disaster for New Zealand's two main export industries if they lead to uncontrolled use of modified plants and
animals.
"We have to realise that by losing any facet of our clean, green image we are seriously endangering our tourism and
agriculture industries. At the moment, we have a definite trading advantage as a renowned producer of high quality
conventional and organic food.
"As Mr Chaffey pointed out, the first generation of genetically engineered foods have proven to be a dismal failure, and
producers of these foods in Australia and the USA are already facing overwhelming international resistance to their
products.
"On an international scale, the perception of genetically engineered foods is largely negative and while there are still
doubts as to the safety of such foods, it is our responsibility to prevent genetically engineered organisms from
entering the food chain," he said.
"There are other issues at stake here too - for example, once genetically engineered organisms are released into the
environment, there will be no way of stopping them from contaminating organic foods. Once that happens, people
automatically lose the right to choose what they eat."
Mr Chaffey said a public meeting held in Hurunui revealed a general concern for the long-term implications of genetic
engineering. 'No farm producer seriously expects a bonanza from GE - just the overseas corporates,' he said.
'The support for GE within some quarters of the primary production sector is an example of short-term economic
thinking.'
However, he said contained experiments could be allowed to continue for medical research, as long as these did not
affect the food chain - 'Similar to the numerous contained experiments and work done with nuclear products that do not
affect New Zealand's nuclear free status.'
ENDS