1.0 Background

Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council (the Council) was established in December 2002, following the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification.

The Council is an independent body charged with providing information on ethical, cultural and spiritual dimensions of biotechnology; promoting public dialogue on these matters; and providing independent advice to government.

The cultural, ethical and spiritual dimensions of human genes in other organisms have been identified by the Council as an immediate priority. It is an area that has been raised both with the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification, and in applications to the Environmental Risk Management authority (ERMA). The Council has, therefore, initiated a two-phase project to explore the issues surrounding human genes in other organisms, with a view to defining the issues, then, to taking those issues to the public for further exploration. Ultimately the Council will provide advice to government.

The first phase "defining the issues" will include Council work with both a range of people who have already had opportunity to reflect on this and similar issues, and an exploration of the issues with people who have not previously engaged with the topic. (For example, people: who have not been involved in writing papers on the issue; who do not belong to any lobby groups; or work in a closely related area.)

The Council required assistance to explore the issues with people who have not previously engaged with the topic. NFO was commissioned to conduct research that will provide exploration of the issues, and is pleased to present this report of the findings.

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