Less than a third of New Zealanders support the genetic
engineering (GE) of animals, a survey shows.
The Colmar Brunton Omnijet survey, commissioned by the Soil
and Health Association and animal advocacy organisation SAFE,
found that only 27 percent of New Zealanders supported GE of
animals, and that 28 percent of farmers supported it.
The two organisations, along with GE Free NZ and the Green
Party, mounted nationwide campaigns last month to oppose four
applications by AgResearch to conduct broad-ranging genetic
research and the commercialisation of GE animals.
Soil and Health spokesperson Steffan Browning said the
AgResearch applications threatened the nation by proposing
commercial production, and went further than just
small-scale, contained research.
The survey of 1000 people showed opposition to GE of animals
was strong across different ethnicities, with nine out of 10
Maori who expressed an opinion being opposed.
