 NEW ZEALAND NOT ‘PURE' WITH GE
Quarantined genetically engineered ‘farm animals' grazed on a grassy knoll at Christchurch International Airport. The animals formed an alarming backdrop for departing and arriving international visitors, who were issued with biohazard suits to protect themselves from GE contamination. Twenty SAFE anti-GE campaigners staged the action as a cautionary warning of a future New Zealand without the nation's all important clean, green reputation. Tourism New Zealand has spent over $10m promoting New Zealand to the UK, USA and Australia as ‘100% Pure.' "SAFE believes New Zealand can no longer promote itself as ‘100% Pure' if proposed genetic engineering experiments on animals by AgResearch are approved next month by ERMA," says SAFE campaign director Hans Kriek. The colourful protest was screened on TV3 news and attracted a variety of other media. "We received many positive comments from travellers, both from overseas and New Zealand. It astounds many that New Zealand is willing to risk its international reputation for the sake of genetic experimentation that is unlikely to bring benefits to our country as a whole," says Hans. "AgResearch proposes to conduct highly contentious and potentially cruel GE experiments on animals that include field trials of genetically modified farm animals. If approved, New Zealand can say goodbye to its clean, green image." 
KIWI POLL REJECTS GE ANIMALSMost New Zealanders are strongly opposed to the genetic engineering of animals in New Zealand, with farmers as ardently opposed as the rest of the community, a new survey shows. A Colmar Brunton Omnijet survey of over 1000 people, commissioned by SAFE and the Soil & Health Association of New Zealand, found that only 27 per cent of New Zealanders, and just 28 per cent of farmers, support genetic engineering (GE) of animals. However, six out of ten farmers (61%) who stated an opinion in the survey said they do not support GE of animals, and almost a third of all farmers surveyed (28%) stated they 'don't know.' SAFE campaign director Hans Kriek said: "The majority of New Zealanders are opposed to GE animals (55%) and almost one in five (18%) want more information about what is being planned, the risks involved, the effect on the animals and who will really benefit. New Zealanders have an inherent distain for the genetic engineering of animals. When you consider the foetal abnormalities, deformities and congenital health defects of cloned GE animals, kiwis have very valid reasons to oppose GE."
The survey shows two thirds (67%) of people who expressed an opinion are opposed. Opposition is equally strong across different ethnicities: among those with Maori descent who expressed an opinion nine out of ten (86%) are opposed.
AgResearch challenged at Fashion Week show Prominent anti-GE organisations banded together on Friday (19 Sept) outside AgResearch's show at Fashion Week to demonstrate that New Zealand must remain GE free and not become home to 'unfashionably' mutated genetically engineered animals.
"GE Free NZ (in food and environment), SAFE and Soil and Health Association will today hold a different kind of 'fashion show' at a public vigil to protest plans by AgResearch for genetically engineered animals to be commercialised in New Zealand, indefinitely," says group spokesperson Jon Carapiet.
"We believe Crown research institute AgResearch's applications pose the single biggest threat to farm animals, New Zealand's cultural identity, and our international image," says Mr Carapiet.
If approved, AgResearch will be able to conduct broad-ranging genetic experiments and go into commercial production at sites around New Zealand. They will use cows, goats, sheep, pigs, deer, llama, horses, rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens, and cell-lines from humans and monkeys. AgResearch say GE animals provide "a practical way of producing sufficient quantity of proteins for biomedical or agricultural use". But the groups claim AgResearch are putting Brand New Zealand at serious risk.
"We need a middle path of ethical biotechnology, not the extreme science being proposed. There are alternatives that are not cruel or cause deformities," says Mr Carapiet. "We need to have ethical uses of science that fit New Zealand's cultural values and positioning as clean, green and natural." The groups are urging New Zealanders to make submissions before 31 October to oppose the four AgResearch applications currently before ERMA.
AgResearch Putting New Zealand at Risk! Government research institute AgResearch has applied to develop genetically modified (GM) animals and commercialise their products. This move could pose the single biggest threat ever to farm animals and New Zealand's cultural identity.
If these applications are approved, AgResearch will be able to conduct broad-ranging genetic experiments on cows, goats, sheep, pigs, deer, llama, horses, rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits and chickens. They will even use cells taken from humans and monkeys.
Their intention is to mix genes from different species to make transgenic animals. This process creates deformed animals and presents new risks to human health, the environment and our reputation. There are other ways to manufacture pharmaceuticals and other ethical uses of biotechnology that can benefit New Zealand.
Many New Zealanders and organisations including GE Free NZ, SAFE, the Green Party, The Soil and Health Association, Greenpeace and most members of the public oppose the "GE" vision for New Zealand's future.
HELP PROTECT NEW ZEALAND. SPEAK OUT AGAINST AGRESEARCH'S APPLICATIONS..
WHY OPPOSE ANIMAL GENETIC MODIFICATION? Genetic modification (also called genetic engineering or GE) is experimental and has raised safety and cultural issues all over the world. Most consumers do not want it. We cannot afford to compromise New Zealand's clean, green reputation, cause widespread animal suffering and put New Zealanders at needless risk for the sake of greed and wishful thinking. AgResearch's four applications to ERMA are extremely vague and leave the public at risk when things go wrong. Increased animal suffering Genetically modified animals are prone to increased levels of suffering. Previous experiments show GM calves, for example, are more likely to be born with serious deformities. GM cows can develop gangrenous udders and mastitis and are highly susceptible to respiratory and septic conditions. AgResearch seeks to use recipient animals as surrogate mothers to carry GM embryos. Recipient animals are often aborted at around 60 days and the foetus cells harvested to produce new embryos. Harm to our environment AgResearch plans to have research or testing facilities around New Zealand, including in the Waikato, Canterbury and Southland regions. The risk of a breach in biosecurity or site contamination can never be eliminated and would jeopardise New Zealand's reputation for clean, safe, natural food. Animal waste from GM animals will be used as compost or sprayed onto fields without adequate monitoring of the environmental effects. Unethical conduct AgResearch will genetically engineer animals with human genes. They will deliberately create sick animals as ‘models' of human disease despite the Bioethics Council calling for an ethical review of such practices. Risk of diseaseNew Zealand animals are currently free of many highly contagious diseases such as Mad Cow Disease (BSE) and Scrapie, making New Zealand an attractive testing ground for overseas biotech investors. Genetic modification of animals risks creating new diseases in animals or in people consuming milk and other products made from the animals. | 
