PSGRNZ
@psgrnz.bsky.social
Stewardship. Precautionary principle, science, public interest, human & planetary health, tech, pollution, nutrition, genetics & epigenetics. Substack/YouTube/Spotify/Insta: @PSGRNZ Website: PSGR.org.nz
NZ EPA consultation on a brand new toxic, endocrine disrupting herbicide ends next Wednesday. Strangely, the EPA drew from European info but then deviated to contradict the EU position. psgr.org.nz/pub-res/nzep...
October 3, 2025 at 1:45 AM
NZ EPA consultation on a brand new toxic, endocrine disrupting herbicide ends next Wednesday. Strangely, the EPA drew from European info but then deviated to contradict the EU position. psgr.org.nz/pub-res/nzep...
Is chlorpyrifos-methyl a risk to infants & children? The evidence suggests this. But NZ & Australian regulators have steered away from frankly assessing the individual & combined toxic risk of the insecticide & the fumigant. Families are let down by the 'safety' agencies psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
September 9, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Is chlorpyrifos-methyl a risk to infants & children? The evidence suggests this. But NZ & Australian regulators have steered away from frankly assessing the individual & combined toxic risk of the insecticide & the fumigant. Families are let down by the 'safety' agencies psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
NZ EPA only looked at chlorpyrifos - chlorpyrifos-methyl ignored. They could have elected to look at both as a risk class (like they often do when weakening and extending restrictions for other substance classes) but chose not to. It was a political choice. psgr.org.nz/reports-pape...
September 9, 2025 at 12:00 AM
NZ EPA only looked at chlorpyrifos - chlorpyrifos-methyl ignored. They could have elected to look at both as a risk class (like they often do when weakening and extending restrictions for other substance classes) but chose not to. It was a political choice. psgr.org.nz/reports-pape...
We've been busy! For Kiwis interested in membership, our annual newsletter provides a good snapshot of work in recent years. Please note that our work programme changes from year to year - exciting plans in progress for the next 12 months! psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
August 30, 2025 at 4:49 AM
We've been busy! For Kiwis interested in membership, our annual newsletter provides a good snapshot of work in recent years. Please note that our work programme changes from year to year - exciting plans in progress for the next 12 months! psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
The importance of public health for prevention - 'very little of that reduction in mortality was because of medical care'. @BrucePLanphear
Population-level strategies to increase the nutritional status, and to decrease exposures to toxicants.
Original video: youtu.be/VgB9lXMkH_o
Population-level strategies to increase the nutritional status, and to decrease exposures to toxicants.
Original video: youtu.be/VgB9lXMkH_o
August 25, 2025 at 2:15 AM
The importance of public health for prevention - 'very little of that reduction in mortality was because of medical care'. @BrucePLanphear
Population-level strategies to increase the nutritional status, and to decrease exposures to toxicants.
Original video: youtu.be/VgB9lXMkH_o
Population-level strategies to increase the nutritional status, and to decrease exposures to toxicants.
Original video: youtu.be/VgB9lXMkH_o
The Gene Technology Bill allows pre-application discussions between applicants and regulators to be hidden from the Official Information Act. Why the secrecy if this technology is safe? #Transparency #GeneEditingNZ #RightToKnow
June 22, 2025 at 3:21 AM
The Gene Technology Bill allows pre-application discussions between applicants and regulators to be hidden from the Official Information Act. Why the secrecy if this technology is safe? #Transparency #GeneEditingNZ #RightToKnow
Yes - gene flow & contamination is expected. Link to a transcript of our presentation to the Select Committee, on the Gene Tech Bill: psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
June 2, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Yes - gene flow & contamination is expected. Link to a transcript of our presentation to the Select Committee, on the Gene Tech Bill: psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
MBIE claims the #precautionary approach is out-dated & removes it from the Gene Tech Bill. Once gene-edited organisms are released, they can't be recalled. This is a one-way decision with no room for 'let's see how it goes'.
🙄😠Is the EU out of date MBIE?
psgrnz.substack.com/p/the-precau...
🙄😠Is the EU out of date MBIE?
psgrnz.substack.com/p/the-precau...
June 2, 2025 at 2:45 AM
MBIE claims the #precautionary approach is out-dated & removes it from the Gene Tech Bill. Once gene-edited organisms are released, they can't be recalled. This is a one-way decision with no room for 'let's see how it goes'.
🙄😠Is the EU out of date MBIE?
psgrnz.substack.com/p/the-precau...
🙄😠Is the EU out of date MBIE?
psgrnz.substack.com/p/the-precau...
The Gene Tech Bill = a massive accountability gap
Exempt gene-edited organisms: No tracking no monitoring
Environmental releases: No recall!
Health impacts: No traceability
Without accountability, there can be no responsibility. Is this the regulatory system New Zealanders deserve?
Exempt gene-edited organisms: No tracking no monitoring
Environmental releases: No recall!
Health impacts: No traceability
Without accountability, there can be no responsibility. Is this the regulatory system New Zealanders deserve?
May 28, 2025 at 1:36 AM
The Gene Tech Bill = a massive accountability gap
Exempt gene-edited organisms: No tracking no monitoring
Environmental releases: No recall!
Health impacts: No traceability
Without accountability, there can be no responsibility. Is this the regulatory system New Zealanders deserve?
Exempt gene-edited organisms: No tracking no monitoring
Environmental releases: No recall!
Health impacts: No traceability
Without accountability, there can be no responsibility. Is this the regulatory system New Zealanders deserve?
😲When the same agency that funds biotechnology also writes the rules to regulate it, we have a problem.
MBIE controls NZ's $1.2 billion science budget AND wrote the Gene Technology Bill to deregulate the very technologies it funds.
PSGR's report: psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
#food #safety #capture
MBIE controls NZ's $1.2 billion science budget AND wrote the Gene Technology Bill to deregulate the very technologies it funds.
PSGR's report: psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
#food #safety #capture
May 25, 2025 at 10:33 PM
😲When the same agency that funds biotechnology also writes the rules to regulate it, we have a problem.
MBIE controls NZ's $1.2 billion science budget AND wrote the Gene Technology Bill to deregulate the very technologies it funds.
PSGR's report: psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
#food #safety #capture
MBIE controls NZ's $1.2 billion science budget AND wrote the Gene Technology Bill to deregulate the very technologies it funds.
PSGR's report: psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
#food #safety #capture
🚨Democracy Alert: NZ's Gene Tech Bill bypassed normal democratic processes, a new PSGR investigation shows. The bill should be put on hold until we can be sure proper democratic processes have been followed. Once gene-edited organisms are released there's no going back!
psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
May 18, 2025 at 2:58 AM
🚨Democracy Alert: NZ's Gene Tech Bill bypassed normal democratic processes, a new PSGR investigation shows. The bill should be put on hold until we can be sure proper democratic processes have been followed. Once gene-edited organisms are released there's no going back!
psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
NZ's democracy alert: The Gene Technology Bill could allow untested gene-edited organisms to be released without public knowledge. PSGR has asked the Ombudsman to investigate MBIE for corrupting democratic processes. #NZDemocracy #GeneEditingNZ psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
May 18, 2025 at 2:23 AM
NZ's democracy alert: The Gene Technology Bill could allow untested gene-edited organisms to be released without public knowledge. PSGR has asked the Ombudsman to investigate MBIE for corrupting democratic processes. #NZDemocracy #GeneEditingNZ psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
The NZ Ombudsman wrote asking PSGR for more information following our complaint about the regulatory processes and information that MBIE relied on for Gene Tech regulatory reform. 👇
psgr.org.nz/letters/nz-o...
psgr.org.nz/letters/nz-o...
May 11, 2025 at 1:26 AM
The NZ Ombudsman wrote asking PSGR for more information following our complaint about the regulatory processes and information that MBIE relied on for Gene Tech regulatory reform. 👇
psgr.org.nz/letters/nz-o...
psgr.org.nz/letters/nz-o...
PSGR's response to New Zealand's Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned - Phase 2. psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
April 29, 2025 at 12:54 AM
PSGR's response to New Zealand's Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned - Phase 2. psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
9/9🧵What to do?
💯No new Gene Tech legislation is needed - the HSNO Act can be tweaked.
💯Our science & research system can be principle-based & prioritise the public good. Innovation should not control the system, but be one element of it.
😊Please help share this information
💯No new Gene Tech legislation is needed - the HSNO Act can be tweaked.
💯Our science & research system can be principle-based & prioritise the public good. Innovation should not control the system, but be one element of it.
😊Please help share this information
April 16, 2025 at 11:40 PM
9/9🧵What to do?
💯No new Gene Tech legislation is needed - the HSNO Act can be tweaked.
💯Our science & research system can be principle-based & prioritise the public good. Innovation should not control the system, but be one element of it.
😊Please help share this information
💯No new Gene Tech legislation is needed - the HSNO Act can be tweaked.
💯Our science & research system can be principle-based & prioritise the public good. Innovation should not control the system, but be one element of it.
😊Please help share this information
8/9🧵 The game? Whenever you think of government science policy directed to ‘innovation’ it’s treadmill for IP, patents, royalties & commercialisation.
‘Innovation’ systems create barriers to public-good research that do not promise a patent or commercial outcome.
psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
‘Innovation’ systems create barriers to public-good research that do not promise a patent or commercial outcome.
psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
April 16, 2025 at 11:30 PM
8/9🧵 The game? Whenever you think of government science policy directed to ‘innovation’ it’s treadmill for IP, patents, royalties & commercialisation.
‘Innovation’ systems create barriers to public-good research that do not promise a patent or commercial outcome.
psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
‘Innovation’ systems create barriers to public-good research that do not promise a patent or commercial outcome.
psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
7/9🧵PSGR call for 2 separate public enquiries. The reforms will restrict the capacity of the new gene tech regulator & the NZ science system, to conduct activities intended to serve the public good & support constitutional & democratic government.’
psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
April 16, 2025 at 11:24 PM
7/9🧵PSGR call for 2 separate public enquiries. The reforms will restrict the capacity of the new gene tech regulator & the NZ science system, to conduct activities intended to serve the public good & support constitutional & democratic government.’
psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
6/9🧵It looks like officials undermined good process, to drive outcomes that would severely restrict the capacity of the new gene technology regulator to safely regulate gene edited technologies and organisms.
PSGR's Hijacking Democracy Part I paper on Gene Tech Reform 👇
psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
PSGR's Hijacking Democracy Part I paper on Gene Tech Reform 👇
psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
April 16, 2025 at 11:15 PM
6/9🧵It looks like officials undermined good process, to drive outcomes that would severely restrict the capacity of the new gene technology regulator to safely regulate gene edited technologies and organisms.
PSGR's Hijacking Democracy Part I paper on Gene Tech Reform 👇
psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
PSGR's Hijacking Democracy Part I paper on Gene Tech Reform 👇
psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
4/9🧵We’re concerned: NZ MPs may be misled about NZ’s Gene Tech Bill – they might vote for legislation which claims to be ‘safe’ and prevent risk. But NO scientific assessment was undertaken at all & the ‘experts’ were predominantly MBIE funded scientists or investors in biotech-related operations.
April 16, 2025 at 11:08 PM
4/9🧵We’re concerned: NZ MPs may be misled about NZ’s Gene Tech Bill – they might vote for legislation which claims to be ‘safe’ and prevent risk. But NO scientific assessment was undertaken at all & the ‘experts’ were predominantly MBIE funded scientists or investors in biotech-related operations.
1/9🧵Yesterday PSGR emailed NZ Members of Parliament, legal scholars & the major ag export industries. Why? Official docs suggest MBIE officials & the Minister-in-charge Judith Collins short-circuited important democratic processes & conventions - in the name of 'economic growth'.
April 16, 2025 at 10:59 PM
1/9🧵Yesterday PSGR emailed NZ Members of Parliament, legal scholars & the major ag export industries. Why? Official docs suggest MBIE officials & the Minister-in-charge Judith Collins short-circuited important democratic processes & conventions - in the name of 'economic growth'.
Multiple ways scientific information is used & harnessed by governments to support science claims. But when this information cannot be contradicted or challenged it is best described as propaganda. psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
January 19, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Multiple ways scientific information is used & harnessed by governments to support science claims. But when this information cannot be contradicted or challenged it is best described as propaganda. psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
Stepping Back from the Brink: The Programmable Ledger. Four democratic risks that arise when Digital IDs are coupled to Central Bank Digital Currencies. psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
January 19, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Stepping Back from the Brink: The Programmable Ledger. Four democratic risks that arise when Digital IDs are coupled to Central Bank Digital Currencies. psgr.org.nz/component/jd...
