WIN:  Delivering our Striking at the Source petition signed by more than 22,000 supporters to trigger a review by the Primary Production Committee on current policy settings that currently favour the use of animals in research, testing and teaching.

WIN: Standing alongside members of the animal science and research industry at an oral hearing held by the Primary Production Select Committee to hear NZAVS and our supporters’ voices on our proposed policy changes to help replace the use of animals in research, testing and teaching.

HOW THE WINS WERE WON

There are no wins without the work. This work has taken several years, and we will continue to push further wins, thanks to your support.

The issue: Using animals for science does not start in a lab. It is driven by a complicated web of factors. Funding and policy decisions are major drivers of animal experimentation. A lack of transparency and openness means the public rarely knows what is happening. And our laws are often weak and selectively enforced. To tackle these problems, we are going to the very source of the use of animals in science!

The solution: Together with our supporters, our Striking at the Source campaign aims to put pressure on Parliament so we can start to create a world without animal testing. NZAVS has been campaigning on this topic for decades.

We are currently awaiting the Primary Production Select Committee’s recommendations to the policy and law changes NZAVS is proposing.

The changes we want: Here are some of the changes we recommend for the NZ government and the animal science and research industry:

1. Commit to phasing out the use of animals for science as technology permits. You can read more here‍
2. Commit to phasing out the requirements in NZ legislation for animal testing. You can read more here‍
3. Allocate funding for the use and development of non-animal-based research, testing and teaching methods. You can read more here.

WE WILL NOT STOP THERE

We believe that only by fulfilling ALL of these requirements will it result in a new, refreshed system that will encourage scientific progress without causing harm to animals. This new system will help pave the way for a kinder and fairer Aotearoa for both animals and people.

The Primary Production Select Committee Report, in response to our petition and hearing, recommended that the NZ Government “take note” and “comprehensively investigate possibilities for progress and fruitful development”.

NZAVS is now pursuing those positive recommendations with the new government and the 54^th Parliament.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We want to thank the members of the animal science and research community for working with us and providing valuable feedback on our campaign. Notable institutes include Universities New Zealand - Te Pōkai Tara, AgResearch, the Australian & New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals (ANZCCART) and the Australian and New Zealand Laboratory Animal Association (ANZLAA).

We also want to thank Dr Jodi Salinksy and Dr Cindy Buckmaster for their contributions to this campaign.