The government’s Gene Technology bill is one step closer to becoming law, but a Māori kai sovereignty leader warns it could have far-reaching consequences for how Māori grow and protect their own food.
Last Friday, the Select Committee report on the bill was released, recommending recognition of kaitiaki relationships with both indigenous and non-indigenous species of significance – defined as species brought to Aotearoa before 1769 on waka, prior to Captain Cook’s arrival.
Dr. Jessica Hutchings, co-founder of the Papawhakaritorito Trust, says the bill threatens Māori control over their food systems.
“Māori are relegated to that consultative role. We’re not decision makers. There’s no Treaty model here in terms of making decisions about our environment,” says Hutchings.
The bill could open the door for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to be released in Aotearoa, risking contamination of traditional seeds and undermining Māori food sovereignty.
“We lose our sovereignty, or seeds lose their absolute natural state of being a part of nature, to being something that’s commodified… Seeds is really the last bastion. Seeds are encoded with the gifts of nature, the gifts of our atua. And when we manipulate them, we impact on the whakapapa, the mauri, the mana of the potential of that seed and what it offers,” says Hutchings.
She urges Māori communities to lobby MPs and build local seed banks to protect their food future.
The final decision on the bill now rests with Parliament.
