1. Introduction

This report, which has been prepared for Toi te Taiao: New Zealand Bioethics Council, builds on previous research on attitudes to stem call research completed in February 2006 (Warren and Osborne, 2006). The current research further explores themes identified in the earlier research relating to the level, type and source of information participants felt they needed to fully participate in dialogue about stem cell research and other technologies. It also explores themes relating to the stage of technology development at which  participants would prefer to voice an opinion.

The current report is based on findings from focus group discussions with the participants who contributed to the initial research. Most participants were available for the second set of focus groups, but some were unable to attend. The questions for these focus groups were developed to encourage participants to reflect on their personal responses to the initial stem cell discussions. Six focus groups were held in May and June, 2006. The focus groups included young parents, retirees, Māori, rural residents, young people and a mixed group. While a range of views were represented, the research does not aim to attribute particular views to particular groups of people, given the relatively small number of people who participated.

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