31/10/ 2025 Are Claims of Escape of GE Plants Political Pretence?

31/10/ 2025  Are Claims of Escape of GE Plants Political Pretence?

Claims of a bio-security breach have raised concerns after Farmers Weekly quoted Dr William Rolleston saying that wilding GE petunias had escaped into the environment in Northland. [1]

The Biosecurity Senior Incursion Investigator has assured us after investigating all their avenues that there is no evidence that there is an escape of GE in to the Northland environment.

Though Biosecurity NZ are awaiting a response from Dr Rolleston to ask about his assertion, but he has not replied after 6 days.

GE Free New Zealand contacted Biosecurity NZ who are taking this very seriously as Dr. Rolleston had not made them aware that this illegal incursion had occurred.

“This information is of concern as the GM plants are illegal and Dr. Rolleston has not informed MPI about the illegal GE plant escape,” said Claire Bleakley, president if GE-Free NZ.

In MPI replies to the notification of possible illegal GM plants they have reassured us that Biosecurity NZ is looking into the assertion. However, they believe this was an old incident occurring in 2017 which was cleaned up immediately. MPI say that no wild plants escaped. [2]

“If the claims are not new but refer to the old report then Dr Rolleston is being misleading and is casting Biosecurity NZ in a bad light and this needs to be addressed.” said Bleakley

“If these GM plants have escaped into the environment, then it shows that containment of GE is impossible and threatens GE Free farming systems, health, safety and environment.”

NZ is still GE Free in its environment.  

We would like to thank NZ Biosecurity for taking immediate action to check out the veracity of this possible illegal GM incursion.

 References:

[1] https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/politics/organic-groups-renew-opposition-to-ge-bill/

[2] https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/18431-Genetically-Modified-GM-petunias

ENDS:

Jon Carapiet – Spokesperson – 021 050 7681

Claire Bleakley – president GE Free NZ – 027 348 6731