Modernity Contextualises New Zealand's Royal Commission on Genetic Modification: A Discourse Analysis

Abstract

The New Zealand's Royal Commission on Genetic Modification (RCGM)'s report was released in the year 2001. RCGM's findings supports the ongoing development of genetic engineering in New Zealand and recommends the recommencement of genetic modification field trials.

GMO regulation and civic participation at the “edge of the world”: the case of Australia and New Zealand

“…These meetings were complemented by opportunities for online input into the definition of issues relating to GMOs. While attempts to engage different publics were limited, and the weight of public submissions opposing genetic modification did not appear to have a major impact on the recommendations of the Commission (RCGM 2001, Appendix 3;Rogers-Hayden and Hindmarsh 2002), Commissioners nevertheless demonstrated a conviction that public participation was an integral part of the inquiry process (RCGM 2001, p. 6).…”

“…Public meetings were complemented by written submissions using a standard template and formal hearings at which "Interested parties" (individuals or groups with "an interest in the inquiry" that was "apart from that in common with the public") presented their submissions and were available for cross-examination by other "Interested parties" (RCGM 2001, Appendix 1, p. 115). The processes associated with "Interested parties", which included commercial biotech companies, scientists and research organizations as well as environmentalist lobby groups, drew criticism as being too legalistic (Campbell 2004) and modernist (Rogers-Hayden and Hindmarsh 2002), disadvantaging individual public voices.…”

Genetic engineering regulation in Australia: An ‘Archaeology’ of expertise and power

“…Much like that exercise, this review has also appointed lawyers and experts to carry it out. Rogers-Hayden and Hindmarsh (2002) attributed the role of expertization as a major influence on the Commission's recommendations to proceed with GM in NZ but 'with caution' (see also Campbell, 2004), which by and large was met with much disdain in the New Zealand public sphere.…”

Developments in nanotechnology public engagement in the UK: ‘upstream’ towards sustainability?

“…For example, the notion of sustainability was presented both as meaning 'sustainable organic agriculture' and as 'sustainable genetic modification' (see Rogers-Hayden and Hindmarsh [22], Rogers-Hayden [23]). Nanotechnology engagement may also highlight such contrasts.…”