Hager welcomes genetic seed inquiry

Author Nick Hager today welcomed the inquiry into an alleged release of genetically engineered (GE) corn seed, saying he would be happy to give evidence to the parliamentary committee conducting it.

Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons, who chairs the local government and environment committee, said the inquiry would look into the alleged accidental release of GE corn in 2000.

Hager alleged the GE release and subsequent cover-up in his book Seeds of Distrust, published during the election campaign in July.

His book stirred a furious Prime Minister Helen Clark into flaying the Greens for resorting to "gutter politics".

The Greens said they were unaware of what was in the book until after it was published.

Hager told NZPA this morning he welcomed the inquiry.

"I'd be happy to (appear)," he said.

"Obviously I wouldn't reveal my sources for the original story, but other than that I will look forward to there being a place where all the facts can come out.

"I am sure the story I wrote is correct, but at the time the book came out in the election campaign there was a lot of denial and damage control, to confuse the story.

"This will hopefully now be an opportunity for it to be brought to light properly."

He wrote the Government had changed rules to allow seed, which tests had shown to be contaminated with GE seed, to be released commercially.

Ministry for the Environment chief executive Barry Carbon said at the time that while he disagreed with Hager's conclusions, there had been mistakes in the interpretation of the initial test which showed some GE contamination.

The inquiry was expected to be the committee's first item of business next year. Full terms of reference have yet to be outlined.

Two main areas of focus would be whether tests indicated there was GE contamination, and how officials and the Government coped with the events.

Ms Fitzsimons said yesterday the timing of Hager's book meant "the climate was probably too heated for a serious, rational look at the facts" when it was released.

"This inquiry will set the facts straight for the public as well as for MPs.

"If it helps resolve some outstanding disagreements between Labour and the Greens, that would be good too."

Prime Minister Helen Clark said in July she would be happy for a select committee inquiry to have access to every file and officials because a policy of total disclosure was warranted.

Acting Prime Minister Michael Cullen told reporters yesterday the Government was "extremely relaxed" about the inquiry because it was confident about the outcome.

Environment Minister Marian Hobbs also welcomed the inquiry, she told National Radio today.

"I know that had I been told that there was any corn or any seed that was genetically modified that was found, and said to be so, that corn would have come out of the ground."

- NZPA