The government announcement today about ending a gene technology ban outside the lab was noticeably (but unsurprisingly) silent on any reference to matauranga Māori, Māori kaitiakitanga, or religion.
Alan King-Hunt’s 2023 thesis on biotech control of predator wasps, matauranga Māori, and religious and spiritual Māori perceptions offers an incisive perspective about the plurality of views within Māori communities about biotech controls, religion, and culture:
“This essay contends that public engagement about wasp biotechnological controls is inherently secularised – that is, such discussions have yet to be cast within contextual spiritual and religious terms. As such, this thesis seeks to reassert Māori and non-Māori religious and spiritual views about biotechnology within the broader predator-free A-NZ context” (16).
“[M]any respondents felt that the scientific case for ‘doing something’ about wasp numbers in the country is consistent with notions of environmental responsibility found in Māori cultural, religious or non-religious views, beliefs, or principles. Whether or not that involves one or more wasp biotechnologies is dependent on a set of conditions that need to be met before discussions about giving consent are initiated, such as a provision of evidence that explains any safety measures and risk aversive strategies, a public engagement process that centers the position of Māori as Treaty partners, and also includes both scientific and non-scientifically trained communities representing a diverse cross-section of New Zealand society, and for lead researchers to develop science communication strategies in order to better inform non-scientific communities about the benefits and risks of wasp biotechnological controls” (171–172).
Whilst the promises of gene editing technology are great — who wouldn’t want to reduce emissions and cure cancer? — the perils are also readily apparent. I hope that the government has the courage to step into its role as treaty partner and initiate discussion with Māori and tauiwi alike to hear the religious and spiritual concerns of Aotearoa New Zealand.