Author: Marie McEntee, Senior Lecturer, School of Environment, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

The government’s recently announced plan to end New Zealand’s effective ban on the use of gene technologies outside the laboratory has reignited debate about this historically contested topic. While the government aims to pass legislation and introduce a gene tech regulator before 2026, opposition parties want broad conversations with New Zealanders to gauge their opinions. As our research shows, such conversations are complex. They must include a diverse range of people because discussions about gene technology bring strong reactions based on people’s values and beliefs. We found this to be especially pointed when talking about the use of these technologies…