Even as more and more people woke up to the issue of Genetic Engineering, the government and biotechnology industry rejected public concerns.
So protests continued, bringing together people from all walks of life.
Under pressure from the public The Royal Commission on Genetic Modification was established.
The Royal Commission made recommendations on how to proceed but was widely seen as a betrayal of the public interest.
Much of the report was ignored or sidelined later. Ethical issues were supposed to be considered by a new Bioethics Council, which the government first set up but then abolished.
The public concerns remained.
MAdGE and kiwi celebrities spoke up for protection of GE-Free New Zealand and gathered media interest.
GE-free NZ protests saw some of the biggest marches in New Zealand history.
