The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research has stated that they support measures to simplify the approval of medical gene therapies in Aotearoa, and that the government’s gene tech bill should address the need for access to these treatments.
Producer Faith spoke to Dr. Rob Weinkove from the institute about the therapies, and whether it needs to be easier to receive approval for them in Aotearoa.
Every few years, Aotearoa's beech trees produce a great quantity, or mast, of fruit that feeds many of our native birds but also our pests. This coming year, models predict a huge 'mega masting' and conservation experts are gearing up to suppress what they expect will be an explosion of predator species who will turn their sights on native birds when fruit is gone.
To discuss this issue Wednesday Wire Producer Manny spoke to Professor of Conservation Biology at the University of Auckland, James Russell and, after that, the Coordinator of DOC's predator control program, Peter Morton.