News release

From:

Associate Professor Valentina Dinica, School of Business and Government, Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington, and author of this paper, comments:

"New Zealand’s gene technology debate contains information-quality problems, including omissions, exaggerations and inaccurate claims.

"The study analysed 124 media and policy items published from 2017 to 2024. Of 1,574 statements, 35% had information-quality shortcomings. Gene-edited organisms were presented predominantly as natural or low-risk. Risks and scientific uncertainties were underrepresented or mischaracterised compared with international peer-reviewed literature. Hypothetical benefits were portrayed as expected outcomes despite limited evidence. New Zealand and overseas regulations were also misrepresented.

"Of the statements with information-quality problems, 95% were linked to pro-gene-technology actors or journalists. Contributors included scientists developing gene technologies and new organisms, commercial stakeholders and public-sector officials.

"A separate analysis examined whose views were most visible across the full corpus. Pro-gene-technology scientists accounted for 48.5% of all actor appearances. Geneticists questioning deregulation and scientists from other relevant disciplines were rarely cited, often gaining visibility only through opinion pieces.

"The study calls for closer scrutiny of scientific and regulatory claims and greater representation of actors across society, including Māori, NGOs, geneticists with no vested interests and social scientists. Narrow sourcing may leave the public with an incomplete picture while Parliament considers the 2024 Gene Technology Bill."