Gene Technology Bill
The Gene Technology Bill is a proposed update to New Zealand’s regulations on genetic technologies. It is intended to unlock innovation in agriculture, medicine, biotechnology, and pest control by enabling the safe use of gene technology and regulated organisms.
The bill establishes the broad framework for regulating gene technology. The operational procedures, such as application and assessment criteria and timeframes, etc, will be under a set of regulations under the Act (when it becomes law).
What is gene technology?
Gene technology is a way of changing the genetic material (DNA) of living things like plants, animals, or microbes to give them new traits or improve existing ones.
How can gene technology be used in the horticulture industry?
Traditional plant breeding is slow and expensive. It can take 25 years to develop a new variety from breeding to commercial release. Gene editing may be able to support the horticulture industry through:
- faster development of new cultivars
- precision plant breeding for improved yield, pest resistance, and climate resilience
- reduced chemical use, promoting sustainability.
What are some of the concerns with gene technology?
- Some critics argue the bill overlooks Māori values and the Treaty of Waitangi.
- Potential unintended consequences of releasing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the environment.
- Markets and customers resisting products that are:
- produced using gene technology or
- from countries that use gene technology, even where the product is naturally produced.
When will the use of gene technology become legal in Aotearoa New Zealand?
Permitted use of gene technology in New Zealand is still a while away.
The bill is at the second reading (of three) stage (October 2025). There’s no certainty as to whether the bill will be passed or when that might occur; though it’s unlikely the process will be completed before the end of 2025.
If the bill is passed, the government still needs to draft and consult on regulations that will sit under the legislation, as well as set up the regulator.
Read more about progress of the bill on the Parliament website here.
How will the kiwifruit industry decide whether to use gene technology or not?
It is expected Zespri will seek grower input on whether the New Zealand kiwifruit industry will adopt gene technology such as gene editing. To do this, growers need to understand the technology and potential benefits and risks before making decisions about whether they support it or not.
We encourage growers to do research on gene technology, from credible sources. Research may include what the technologies are, benefits and risks, consumer views, and global trends.
In October 2025, NZKGI facilitated symposia around the country to inform growers on:
- The status of New Zealand’s legislative process on gene technology (NZKGI).
- An explanation of gene technology (Kiwifruit Breeding Centre)
- Zespri’s analysis on market trends (Zespri).
- Gene technology in the Australian horticultural environment (Richard Rennie / David ‘Rock’ Hudson).
As an industry we still have more work to do to before any decisions are made on whether we will use gene editing when it is legal. We’ll keep growers updated on the bill’s progress and other developments.