New Plymouth

Date: 4 March 2004
Venue: The Plymouth Hotel,
Cnr Courtenay & Leach St,
New Plymouth

• Māori science: what does it do, where does it actually stand? Is Māori science here and western science levelled above Māori? There is a deep disparity between western science and Māori science.
• Māori are the greatest scientists. With their observations and understandings they navigated and explored this world.
• Isn't that playing god?
• If we look at the computer, we never had that and may be this is exactly the same.
• My main concern is the native species and how this technology will affect them. Does this benefit native species?
• It's humane, but we don't know how far they will go. To me it's inhuman either way; whatever the way the scientists go it's pathetic.
• We all have whakapapa, and purity is not something we claim, we already have this interconnectedness, is it going to be beneficial.
• The promise and potential of health providers is one thing, but why was the research in Ruakura canned? Legal arguments need to be researched. Human rights are an issue here; I would like to be consulted. We have a right to decide.
• I don't accept that today's hui is acceptable enough to be considered as a Taranaki response. We lack the information for us to participate; this is not a consultation hui. For Taranaki, there is a legal argument here; because once we enter a process it's very hard. We are transferring our mana and hapu over to Toi te Taiao, and for me, no we're not. I ask for a memorandum of understanding.
• What are the benefits that will accur to us in the future if scientists all over the world are doing this? What about transfusions, are we just getting carried away?
• The real question here is about safeguards. I am mindful that without the world of science, with genetic modification it tends to alter a body. We need more information to give an informed response. What are these modifications especially to corn, etc?
• I'm so pro GE, I get blinded by the cultural issues, and it's been going on for years.
• Our people and community are moving away from mainstream to traditional methods. The promise is of 'potential'. Māori are going to benefit, get off the ground. Look at the ministries and the Māori statistics? Will our people be benefit? No way.
• I think this technology is good and if it cures my whanau I would like to use it.
• It is ethically wrong to stop a process which will further the human race. Spiritually it could stop our potential to be all we can be. Culturally our people have never been one to stand in the shadows. I support GE properly safeguarded and given the potential cures possible.
• Intellectual Property Rights in whatever forms could be to the advantage of the indigenous people.
• I would like to remind everyone where this came from. It came from Adolf Hitler and his Nazi regime, when he tried to breed a pure Aryan race and wipe other races out. Eugenics.
• I'm keen on cloning; I can't wait until there are more me's for extra spare parts, look at Jonah Lomu.
• Is patenting genes a concern? Yes there are serious issues concerning consent.
• I have been to China to look at their tuna, where they have already crossed one species into another and it's amazing, if we can provide more kai at a least cost then why not?
• I think our Māori doctors who know about these issues need to pass on further information. These are vital issues.
• Ethics is a personal thing, group morals; it's up to an individual. How long have they been experimenting on humans such as the Jews etc, the government had control not them.
• I agree with the concept, Rutherford split the atom in the name of good science he didn't know that they were going to develop his research in a lethal killing machine. The determining over what is good and bad and what are appropriate safeguards is ethics.
• I see the older generation opposing this because they have no information, I see the new generation opposing this because they have the information but me in the middle ground, I am supportive of it.
• I don't know whether Māori science is robust enough to monitor this technology.
• I really oppose GM. It affects my whakapapa, my mauri, everything that is me and as a healer I hold great concerns as to the effects it will have upon the whakapapa of the plants, our rongoa, what will be the whakapapa if we let this happen? The taonga within changes and this scares me.
• If it was informed decisions, once you put your blood out there it is open for scientific research. Science is archaic knowledge; if it changes it changes our rongoa knowledge.
• How can they damage our spiritual body, the wairua and the mauri? When we die we return to Papa. If they damage either body, the physical and the spiritual they damage both, how do we know? How can they do this?
• I understand that G.M is in foodstuff and food products and safe guards are still a major concern. There are food safety and labelling issues here.
• Are we talking about the modification of humans or the monitoring of cells?
• Who determines the use and processes of research on GM and GM food labelling? The reality is on the costs of each food product.
• Why? Are the GM foods good or bad? Not enough research has been done on this. With the corn it has been proven that you lose the natives when GM is present. In salmon, you lose the natives.
• If it provides food quantity, with quality and at low cost, why not?
• The impact on natives is devastating. Not only have our natives suffered through the effects of introduced species, now they have this to contend with. The natives by nature are timid and this threatens their future growth.
• What are the safeguards? At what point do Māori converse on this?
• This was all begun by the 'feeding the poor of the world' promotional stuff and it's all rubbish.
• Consumerism is the key drive for these technologies and those that object have been driven underground.
• I think that is those that support this have been driven underground by the protestors.
• I don't think that this is a decision that should be left to the scientists and government.
• We are tampering with whakapapa and we should not touch this technology.
• New Zealand should have an opportunity to benefit from this.
• There was a scientist who came on to the Good Morning programme and Mike Hosking said to him 'so what will you do if one day I am walking down the road and I come upon a three headed human?' The scientist replied 'that's alright because by then you will properly be the abnormal one with the one head.'
• A few corporations are controlling the growth. What happens to the seed land banking? Where is the protection?
• Government should not be promoters as well as regulators.

Recommendations

• We need to meet with scientists who can thoroughly examine the issues, who are open-minded enough and who give an unbiased report which provides evidence with sound scientific rationales.
• We would like the establishment of an independent Māori institute which can provide resources concerning these technologies, tikanga issues, and the details of the science, with an eye to educating and helping to promote debate and support Māori whakaaro on this matter. They must provide independent advice and not be funded by the government.
• We are supportive of the development as long as it has a strong monitoring process with a guarantee of no escapes.

[ Previous page | Next page ]