16 August 2005

3 out of 4 voters want NZ to stay GE-Free; does National?

The three out of four voters who want New Zealand's food production to remain GE-Free deserve to know where all political parties, particularly National, stand on the GE issue, Green Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says.

The Sustainability Council has today released a new poll that has found 74.5 percent are in favour of New Zealand's food production remaining GE-Free. This is up from 70.3 percent support in answer to the same question in an August 2003 poll. It confirms polls commissioned by the Green Party before the 2002 election, which showed between two thirds, and three quarters of New Zealanders were not in favour of GE release.

"The Sustainability Council has challenged political parties to say where they stand. In case anyone has any doubts, the Green Party's position remains that there must be no release of living Genetically Modified Organisms, GMOs, into New Zealand's environment or food production.

"Voters going into the polling booths on 17 September have a right to know particularly where the National Party stands on GE. Given the clear concern in the farming community to the potential damage to our markets from a GE release, they would be wise to also respond to the Sustainability Council's call," Ms Fitzsimons says.

ENDS

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