Consultation Process Concludes

NGARUAWAHIA - 8 April 2001: The Royal Commission on Genetic Modification today concluded its consultation programme.

The three-day national hui at Turangawaewae Marae, Ngaruawahia, was its final consultation with the New Zealand public.

The Commission will now withdraw from the public eye to prepare its report, due to be presented to the Governor-General on 1 June 2001.

The Commission would like to thank all those who contributed to the consultation process through their attendance at public meetings, hui and the youth forum, their written public submissions and the "interested persons" and their witnesses who appeared at its formal hearings.

"We have more than 4600 pages of formal hearing transcripts, 10,000 public submissions, 107 extensive submissions from "interested persons", feedback from 15 public meetings, one national hui, 10 regional hui and one youth forum, and our personal notes to review over the next six weeks," says Commission chairman Sir Thomas Eichelbaum.

"Thanks to the information provided, and the exhaustive debate we have heard, during the past seven months, we consider we have the necessary background to enable us to complete our task."

Transcripts from the national hui will be placed on the website: www.gmcommission.govt.nz.

ENDS

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