Ian McLean Spokesperson for the Green Party

People growing genetically unmodified organisms can live next to people who do.

Genetically engineered pollen that blows across the road is perfectly happy to mate with the flowers that live there.

If you grow from genetically engineered seed, your crop is patented and you do not own it. You are simply licensed to grow and sell it when buying the seed.

If your pollen went courting, then some of your neighbor's crop will contain patented genes. The neighbour is legally obliged to remove them before selling the crop, which is impossible. Or they could sue you for allowing the pollen to escape, which is ridiculous.

It has already happened in Australia, and the Northland and Auckland councils reported this week that there are no regulations in Aotearoa governing this situation. This madness must be resolved before any introduction of GMO here.

Ian McLean is a spokesperson for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.