Genetically modified (GM) pasture or nuclear power would not damage New Zealand's clean green image for overseas visitors, a new survey says.
A University of Otago survey, involving 515 interviews with first time visitors at Auckland International Airport, asked people to rate whether GM grass, nuclear power or factory farming would put them off from visiting.
In the first instance, people were asked questions relative to a country that they felt was most similar to New Zealand in order to lessen their natural inclination to be nice to their host country.
Those surveyed rated New Zealand most similar to countries like Australia, Canada, Switzerland and Britain -- all except Australia produce nuclear power.
Only seven visitors "definitely agreed" that GM crops would put them off from visiting New Zealand in the future. Most of those surveyed (92 percent) "definitely, somewhat or slightly" agreed that this would not change their view of New Zealand.
"Whatever the issues regarding whether or not to introduce GM pasture, it seems safe to conclude that potential damage to our clean green image in the eyes of overseas visitors planning to come here should not be a factor," Associate Professor John Knight said.
It was an unsupported myth that GM crops in New Zealand would damage our clean green image in export markets, he said.
This survey follows Prof Knight's research on food distribution in other countries which showed GM crops were not a relevant consideration when sourcing food.
NZPA