PUBLIC UNMOVED BY GE
September 19, 2003
UMR Research & LSN
Concern about genetic engineering features way down the list of problems
facing New Zealand, the latest UMR Research survey reveals.
When asked Owhat do you think is the most important problem facing this
country today¹, GM came in at number 20, well behind more pragmatic issues
such as taxes, crime, education and health care. Race relations made it to
number one.
The UMR Research nation-wide omnibus survey is a telephone poll of 750 New
Zealanders 18 years of age and over. The surveys were conducted in August
and have a 3.6% margin of error.
The lack of interest in this issue from the general public might be
reflected in the low turnout to anti-GE protests in recent days; 12 people
in Timaru, eight in Rotorua and just 30 in Wellington.