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Media releasesWellington, 19 October 2000 Caught in the Headlights – New Zealanders' reflections on Possums, Control Options and Genetic EngineeringNew Zealanders give an orange light to genetic engineering research on possum controlNew Zealanders expect to have more say about the kinds of technologies being developed for controlling possums, reports Dr Morgan Williams, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. Possums are a major problem for New Zealand. 'They damage our forests and threaten our unique wildlife. Our livestock industries are threatened by the bovine tuberculosis they carry. This makes them a major strategic threat to New Zealand's ecological and economic health,' said Dr Williams. New Zealand scientists are working on potential new biocontrol methods, many of which involve genetic engineering. But a study released today by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment shows that while the public supports possum control, New Zealand needs better processes for dialogue between researchers, environmental management agencies and society about what kinds of new controls are being researched. More New Zealanders want to be involved in debating the 'whats', 'whys' and 'hows' of possum control. The Commissioner's report, 'Caught in the Headlights – New Zealanders' reflections on Possums, Control Options and Genetic Engineering', looks at public attitudes towards possible future biocontrols including methods involving genetic engineering. The study, carried out against the backdrop of the GE food debate, found strong concerns about the safety and controllability of such technologies. People felt very differently about GE technologies used in containment, compared to a genetically modified organism being released into the environment. The report concludes that ethical issues, community values and the perceived trustworthiness of sources of information are as important for acceptability as scientific assessments of benefits and risks. 'The public wants to be confident that future possum biocontrols will be safe, humane, effective, and will not have adverse effects on people, other species or the wider environment,' said Dr Williams. 'But generating this confidence requires resolving concerns well beyond the science.' Issues raised in the Commissioner's study include questions about who funds, who benefits, who carries the risks of new controls, the sustainability of current methods of dealing with possums, and the lack of a national strategic plan for possum control. There are also major implications for Maori values in the natural environment and for iwi interests under the Treaty of Waitangi. The Commissioner’s investigation was undertaken in association with Landcare Research and AgResearch, where the biocontrol research is being done. 'There is general support for research to continue, if it might lead to more effective methods of possum control,' said Dr Williams. 'But strengthening trust between the researchers, regulatory agencies and society will be critical.' The report recommends that government Ministers expand research on community views on possum controls and improving the opportunity for community input to the way possums are managed in the future. ENDS For more information contact:
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