National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC)

The National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee was established in 1983, through an amendment to the Animals Protection Act 1960. It was then re-established under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

The committee aims to provide independent, high quality advice to the Minister of Agriculture on policy and practices relating to the use of animals in research, testing and teaching.

Its functions are set out in the Animal Welfare Act.

Useful Resources

MAF Accredited Reviewers

A list, including contact details, of those who are accredited to undertake reviews of organisations which have a code of ethical conduct.

Three R's Award

NAEAC also makes an annual “Three Rs Award”, recognising an individual’s or institution’s achievements in implementing the principles of “replacement, reduction and refinement” – the cornerstone of the ethical use of animals in research, testing and teaching.

Details about the Award and application process are available from:
NAEAC Secretary,
P O Box 2526,
Wellington.
Email: NAEAC@maf.govt.nz

Functions

Section 63 of the Animal Welfare Act 1999 sets out the following functions for the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC):

• advising the Minister of Agriculture on ethical and animal welfare issues arising from research, testing and teaching
• providing advice and information on the development and review of codes of ethical conduct
• making recommendations about the approval, amendment, suspension or revocation of codes of ethical conduct
• making recommendations concerning the setting of standards or policies for codes of ethical conduct
• providing information and advice to animal ethics committees – making recommendations on the appointment of accredited reviewers
• considering the reports of independent reviews of code holders and animal ethics committees
• making recommendations about declaring procedures not to be manipulations
• making recommendations about the manipulation of non-human hominids – making recommendations on the approval of research or testing in the national interest.

Membership

Members of the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) are nominated by organisations but chosen on the basis of their expertise and act in their personal capacity. They do not represent the nominating organisation on the committee.

The following are members of NAEAC:  

• Ms Linda A Carsons BSocSc (Honors) Senior Policy Adviser Animal Welfare, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry nominee ex-officio)
• Ms Allison L Dodds MSc (Honors), Dip Tchg, Head of Science and Technology Faculty, Queens High School (Nominated by the Minister of Education)
• Dr Martin A Kennedy BSc (Hons), PhD, Research Associate Professor, Department of Pathology , University of Otago, Christchurch (nominated by the Health Research Council of New Zealand)
• Dr Ian J LeGrice BE, Dip TP, BHB, MBChB, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Bioengineering Institute and Department of Physiology, University of Auckland (nominated by the Royal Society of New Zealand)
• Dr Roger M Marchant BSc, BVSc, Veterinary Adviser, Schering Plough Animal Health Ltd (nominated by Agcarm Inc)  
• Mr John R Martin MA (Hons), (independent chairperson)
• Dr David R Morgan MSc, PhD, Senior Scientist, Landcare Research NZ Ltd (nominated by Landcare Research)
• Mrs Jenifer M Prattley Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals National Vice President (nominated by the RNZSPCA)
• Mr David J M Peart JP, Regional Councillor Environment Waikato (nominated by Local Government New Zealand)
• Dr Justine H Stewart BVSc, Animal Welfare Officer, University of Auckland