Under the Lens: The Great Genetic Modification Debate in Aotearoa New Zealand

4 December 2025

Episode 4: What does gene editing mean for our future?

We put genetic modification under the lens as Aotearoa New Zealand discusses a major law change. In this episode, we unpack what genes, gene editing and GM actually are, how they are already used, and what Aotearoa New Zealand’s new Gene Technology Bill could mean for our environment, our food, and our future.

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Episode Highlights

What genes and DNA are and how they function
The difference between genetic modification, gene editing, transgenesis and synthetic biology
How gene technologies are already used in medicine, agriculture and pest control
The history of GM debates in Aotearoa New Zealand, including the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification
The Gene Technology Bill and the shift from HSNO to a dedicated gene technology regulator
Risk, benefit and who holds decision making power, including Māori perspectives
Global pressures, climate change and how regulation shapes innovation

Episode Description

Genetic modification has shaped public debate in Aotearoa New Zealand for more than 25 years, influencing how we think about risk, responsibility and the future of our environment. This episode unpacks what genes and DNA actually are, how gene editing and genetic modification work, and why these tools have become so central to conversations about pests, diseases and climate change.

Our hosts revisit the early 2000s Royal Commission on Genetic Modification, the surge of public concern that followed, and how the science has advanced in the decades since. They explore the differences between gene editing, transgenesis and synthetic biology, the benefits and limitations of each, and the global momentum that is pushing these technologies forward. The kōrero also explains how forensics, medicine, agriculture and pest control already rely on genetic tools, often in ways most people never see.

We also look at the ethical, cultural and regulatory questions that guide how Aotearoa New Zealand uses these technologies, including who takes the risk, who benefits and how Māori and communities are involved in decision making. The episode highlights both the promise of genetic tools and the responsibilities that come with them as the country enters a pivotal moment in shaping its future with the Gene Technology Bill.

Meet the Hosts

Professor Amanda Black — Director, Bioprotection Aotearoa; soil scientist at Lincoln University.
Professor Peter Dearden — Co-Director, Genomics Aotearoa; geneticist at the University of Otago.
Dr Nick Waipara — Forest pathologist with Plant & Food Research Group of the Bioeconomy Science Institute, and a long-time collaborator with Te Tira Whakamātaki.

Glossary of Key Terms

DNA
The molecule that carries genetic information in almost all living organisms. It provides the instructions for building and running cells and can be copied and passed on to the next generation.

Gene
A segment of DNA that affects how an organism develops or functions. Changing a gene can change how a plant, animal or microbe behaves or responds to its environment.

Genetic modification (GM)
An umbrella term for techniques where people deliberately change an organism’s DNA for a particular purpose, rather than relying only on traditional breeding or random mutation.

Gene editing
A more precise form of genetic modification that uses tools such as CRISPR to make targeted changes to DNA, for example altering a single “letter” in the genetic code.

Transgenesis
The process of taking a gene from one species and placing it into another, for example adding a bacterial gene to cotton so the plant is less attractive to certain insect pests.

Gene drive
A genetic system designed to spread a particular change through a population faster than normal inheritance. Gene drives are being researched as a possible tool to control disease-carrying insects, but none have been released into the wild.

About the Podcast

Under the Lens is a conversation series exploring how ecosystems resist, recover, and thrive across Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific.

Our Voice

Warm. Curious. Grounded.

We welcome tough questions, speak in plain language, and focus on real people and real impacts. Our conversations bridge perspectives and explore how knowledge, experience, and action come together to support resilience across Aotearoa.

Where This Episode Fits

This kōrero bridges our early discussions about ecological pressure with the emerging technologies that might help us respond. By exploring genetic modification, gene editing and the history behind Aotearoa New Zealand’s GM debates, we build the foundation needed to understand the practical challenges ahead.

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