Listen: Jacinda Ardern says GMOs need cautious approach

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Marty Melville

Jacinda Ardern says the Government will continue to treat GMOs with caution.

The Prime Minister spoke to The Country's Rowena Duncum about former chief science adviser Peter Gluckman's report on climate change, which suggested a conversation needs to happen around genetic modification.

Ardern says the Gluckman report did reflect "a huge amount of potential," in research, science and technology, but the GMO issue is still something to be treated with care.

Listen below:

"So there's something hopeful in that, but again, within the GMO space ... we will continue to take that cautious approach."

Despite concerns around genetic modification, Ardern agrees that something needs to change in agriculture to deal with emissions saying, "we're investing in new and innovative ways to bring down that emission profile."

"So yes, we're pursuing that with vigour because we do want to make sure that we're using all the tools available to us. But in that space there are a few extra layers that as a country we need to navigate because there is a real strength of feeling around the issue of GMO."

Also in today's interview: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern discusses what the 125th Anniversary of votes for women in New Zealand means to her.