Summary About The Gene Technology Bill
The Gene Technology Bill threatens New Zealand's sovereignty, reputation, and individual rights by enabling mandatory gene-based medical treatments, relaxing democratic safeguards, and eliminating transparency in food labelling.
Mandatory Medical Interventions: The Gene Technology Bill allows mandatory gene-based medical treatments, undermining personal autonomy and the NZ Bill of Rights. For individuals, this means you could be forced to undergo medical treatments involving gene technology without your consent, violating your personal choice and autonomy.
Fast-Tracking Legislation: The bill bypasses democratic processes and is being fast-tracked, with its first reading already passed on the 9th of December, 2024. Public submissions are open for six months, but the Bill is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2025. This means your opportunity to influence the process is limited, and decisions affecting your rights are being expedited.
COVID Lessons Ignored: Despite pandemic-era failures and rising concerns about gene technologies, the Bill institutionalises mandates without adequate safety reviews, even before Phase Two of the Royal Commission's findings are published. This raises the risk of exposing you to medical technologies that have not been thoroughly vetted for safety.
Foreign Oversight: It outsources health decisions to foreign regulators, reducing NZ's sovereignty and accountability to its citizens. This means overseas entities could make critical decisions about your health with no direct responsibility to you.
Food Safety Risks: The bill eliminates labelling for gene-altered foods, denying consumers choice and jeopardising public health. As a consumer, you will not know if the food you are eating has been genetically modified, risking your health if you have allergies or specific dietary needs.
Erosion of Trust: Non-transparent policies, including withholding health statistics, damage public confidence in governance. Without access to critical data like cancer rates, you may feel unsure whether public health policies are in your best interest.
Democratic Danger: As described by Dr. Guy Hatchard, this legislation — fast-tracked without public debate — resembles a fascist takeover by stealth, centralising power and undermining democratic freedoms. For you, this means reduced input on critical issues and a government less accountable to its people.
Safeguards Removed: Despite some early optimism that the bill would incorporate strong measures to safeguard the public and the environment, it ultimately removes vital safeguards and prioritises convenience and outside commercial influences over the well-being and rights of New Zealanders.
Call to Action: We must lobby MPs, demand transparency, and advocate for medical autonomy, food safety, and genuine public consultation. You can make a difference by contacting your MP, raising awareness, and demanding accountability. A list of the key MPs to lobby is in this report. Write your submission to the Health Select Committee using the information and template that are included in this report below. The time frame for submissions to the Gene Technology Bill close on the 17th of February 2025.
About The Gene Technology Bill
The Gene Technology Bill was introduced in New Zealand. People are very worried about what it will do to our health, community, well-being, and democracy. This legislation, which proposes to enshrine mandatory medical activity authorisations and grant the Minister emergency powers to impose gene-based medical interventions, strikes at the heart of core values that underpin our society: individual autonomy, informed consent, and transparent governance.
Here is a detailed analysis of the Bill by Dr Guy Hatchard:
And take a few minutes to watch this video by Dr Hatchard:
Kerri Molloy has done an impressive analysis of the bill and the science surrounding GE:
Before I continue, I want to take a moment to acknowledge Dr Guy Hatchard for his thorough and timely analysis of this draft of the legislation. His insights have been instrumental in shedding light on the broader implications of this bill. Dr Hatchard's work reminds us of the importance of vigilance and informed discourse in protecting our freedoms. I am in total agreement with Dr. Hatchard's concerns. In fact, what is proposed in this legislation is deeply alarming and, to be honest, terrifying.
Undermining Medical and Sovereign Autonomy
One of my greatest concerns is how this Bill threatens our right to make informed decisions about our own health. This proposed law enables mandatory medical interventions based on approvals from foreign regulators, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO). This legislation effectively hands over control of our medical choices to external entities that are not accountable to us. It undermines the protections offered by the New Zealand Bill of Rights, which guarantees the right to refuse medical treatment.
As someone who believes deeply in the principle of informed consent, I find this erosion of autonomy unacceptable. The lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic are clear: coercive medical mandates fracture public trust and harm both individuals and the economy. Yet, the government seems intent on ignoring these lessons by introducing a law that institutionalises the very dynamics that caused so much division and hardship.
Fast-Tracking A Democratic Short Circuit
The Gene Technology Bill in New Zealand is indeed being fast-tracked, but specific details on the fast-tracking process are not explicitly outlined in the available information. However, here is what can be outlined:
First Reading: The Bill passed its first reading on the 9th of December, 2024, which is a significant step in the legislative process.
Public Submissions: The Bill is now open for public submissions. This is a part of the select committee phase. The submission time frame for submissions to the Gene Technology Bill close on the 17th of February, 2025.
Target for Operation: The new regime under the Gene Technology Bill is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2025. This indicates that all stages of the legislative process, including second and third readings, must be completed within this timeframe.
The term "fast-tracked" here means that the government is prioritising this legislation, expediting the committee stages, debate time, and voting processes to ensure it becomes law before the end of 2025.
New Zealand First (NZ First) has agreed to support the Gene Technology Bill as part of the coalition agreements with the National Party and ACT. Judith Collins mentioned this commitment in her speech regarding the first reading of the bill, indicating that NZ First's support is part of the coalition agreements from the 2023 election. It may not be easy to get them to backtrack and oppose this legislation, but we can do it.
To get this bill thrown out, we need to work together to get NZ First to support us. We need NZ First to support what is best for New Zealand as a sovereign nation. Let us get them on our side, doing so in a positive way. Here is what I propose:
Take this draft letter that I have prepared for you, read it carefully then write your own letter in your own words, so it best expresses your feelings and not just mine: Draft Letter
Subject: Please Oppose the Gene Technology Bill
Dear [MP’s Name],
I am writing to express my deep concerns about the proposed Gene Technology Bill and to urge you, as a member of New Zealand First, to oppose this legislation.
New Zealand's global reputation as a clean, green nation and a producer of exceptional, GMO-free food is a cornerstone of our identity and economy. Deregulating genetic engineering would weaken this important brand. It would also put our international markets' trust in us and the livelihood of many farmers who depend on the high value of our organic and GMO-free exports.
Beyond economic and environmental risks, this bill represents a grave threat to our sovereignty. By relaxing controls over genetic engineering, we risk ceding control of our food systems, ecosystems. Also, there are provisions in the bill that threaten to cede medical decision-making to multinational corporations and foreign interests such as the World Health Organisation. Such changes could open the door to draconian mandates that strip New Zealanders of the right to choose what they consume or what medical procedures they undergo.
As a New Zealander who cherishes our unique values and freedoms, I implore you to stand firm against this bill. It is not only about preserving our environment and economy but also about protecting the rights and freedoms of future generations.
If NZ First stops this law, I promise to join your party and encourage my family, friends, and associates to do the same. I am ready to assist in any way to make NZ First the party of choice at the next General Election, championing the values that make our nation truly unique.
Thank you for considering my concerns. I trust that you will act in the best interests of New Zealand's people, environment, and sovereignty.
Yours sincerely,[Your Full Name]
[Your Contact Information]
Here is the list of NZ First email addresses to contact:
Additional Actions that You Can Take:
Make a submission to the Health Select Committee by 17th February. To make it easy for you, Dr Hatchard has published suggestions for your submission. They are being sneaky by trying to get this part of the legislative process fast-tracked during the holidays, so let us flood them with submissions!
Here is where you place and complete your submission to the Health Select Committee — it is quick and easy to do.
Join and actively support Organics New Zealand
Subscribe to Dr Guy Hatchard's reports
Please take this article of mine and spread it wide and far — send it to everyone. We must activate as many Kiwis immediately to ensure this bill is killed.
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