Biotechnologies in pest wasp control: taking the sting out of pest management for Māori businesses?

Predator Free 2050 is an ambitious target set by Aotearoa New Zealand’s government, reigniting discussion on biotechnologies. Although focused on the eradication of three mammalian predators, wasps have been identified as an expedient trial pest species for novel biotechnological controls. Specifically, German and common wasps cost $133 million annually and disrupt biodiversity. Māori businesses occupy primary industries said to benefit from wasp control. Moreover, a historically contentious relationship with genetic modification makes Māori critical to this debate. How do Māori businesses in impacted industries feel about the potential use of biotechnologies for wasp control? This seminar will present findings from a Māori-centered mixed-method thesis study with eight Māori businesses who intersect on these issues.

About the Speaker: Symon Palmer (Ngāi Te Rangi) is a Research Assistant and Teaching Fellow at Te Kawa a Māui. His research interests are wide-ranging including decolonisation, science communication, and identity. Recently he completed his master’s thesis, which took him around Aotearoa and as far away as Norway.

For further information email: maori-studies@vuw.ac.nz  or phone (04) 4635314