NMIT Animal Ethics Committee
NMIT Animal Ethics Committee
The Animal Ethics Committee is a subcommittee of the Research and Ethics Committee.
MPI grants permission to NMIT and its partners to do research with animals as long as they adhere to the Code of Ethical Conduct (CEC [PDF 579 KB]) for use of Animals in Research, Testing and Teaching.
This Code of Ethical Conduct (Code) is designed to implement the Animal Welfare Act 1999, the Animal Welfare (Records and Statistics) Regulations 1999, and any other relevant legislation. It is intended to meet or exceed standards of animal manipulation and management as detailed in the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC): Good Practice Guide for the Use of Animals in Research, Testing and Teaching [PDF].
NMIT is committed to planning and conducting the most humane and properly justified animal Research, Testing and Teaching (RTT), based on constructive dialogue, with trust and respect between and among stakeholders.
To achieve this, researchers and educators at NMIT are required to apply the following guiding principles based on the 3 Rs and additionally reflecting the NMIT core value of respect and manaakitanga as the fourth R.
- Replace the use of animals where possible, by substituting with non-sentient or non-living alternatives.
- Reduce the number of animals manipulated to a minimum required to achieve teaching and scientific requirements while also minimising impacts to animals.
- Refine the way studies or Animal Use Protocols (AUPs) are carried out to minimise harm to animals, eliminate or reduce animal suffering and enhance animal welfare.
- Respect for animals, as defined in the Act as sentient beings. The AEC recognises that all animals used in teaching and research should have their welfare needs as the first priority. This integrates the Māori holistic view of health and wellbeing, where an animal’s welfare extends through life and into death, and that when an animal dies, parts of its body may be seen to have mana or mauri of their own.
