Rare Disorders New Zealand (RDNZ) supports the intent of the Gene Technology Bill but recommends that the legislation provides for:

  • The unique needs of people with rare disorders.
  • Appropriately balanced safety measures to prevent any potential harm to individuals with rare disorders (who may be more vulnerable to unintended consequences of gene technology).
  • Timeliness of decision making to prevent avoidable mortality and re-invention of the wheel.
  • Mechanisms to guarantee that individuals with rare disorders, regardless of their ethnicity or socio-economic status, can benefit from gene technology advancements.
  • Compassionate access mechanisms.
  • Meaningful consultation with the rare disorders community.

Read our full submission here.

Our Collective

Rare Disorders NZ is the collective voice of all people living with a rare disorder and their whānau. Our rare collective is made up of more than 150 disorder-specific support groups.

Our work is informed by the issues important to our collective. We work together to improve healthcare and wellbeing for everyone living with a rare health condition in New Zealand.

Learn more