Animal welfare team's work recognised with Research Excellence Award

As New Zealand Openness Week concludes, the University of Auckland’s commitment to ethical and transparent animal research has been recognised through a Te Rau Hiringa Professional Staff Research Excellence Award for its Animal Welfare Team.

The award citation noted that the team has delivered substantial improvement to the ecosystem supporting and enabling animal research and teaching at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. In the video below, the team outlines their work.

A series of initiatives led by the team, working alongside researchers and teaching staff, has halved the time it takes to process an animal ethics application while strengthening animal welfare oversight.

Dr Shirli Notcovich, the lead Animal Welfare Officer, says the team has worked hard.

“Over the past two years, the University has strengthened its approach to animal research oversight, creating a more coordinated and transparent governance model with clearer roles, stronger accountability, and enhanced support for researchers.”

Beyond providing clinical care, the University's veterinary and welfare specialists work closely with researchers to review research proposals, advise on animal welfare considerations, and help refine procedures to minimise distress and other impacts on animals. 

The Animal Welfare group comprises three functions:

Animal Welfare and Clinical Care: provides veterinary expertise, welfare monitoring, clinical support, and guidance on best-practice animal care.

Research Integrity and Compliance: supporting independent review, assurance, auditing, and continuous improvement activities.

Animal Ethics and Administration: supporting the Animal Ethics Committee in maintaining a robust approval process.

Together, the teams help ensure that all animal-based research and teaching activities meet the requirements of New Zealand legislation. In 2021, the University became a signatory of the Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching in New Zealand, developed by the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART).

Through this commitment, the University supports greater transparency about why and how animals are used in research and teaching, while recognising that animal use must be scientifically, ethically and legally justified, and only undertaken when no suitable alternative exists. The University's approach is guided by the internationally recognised principles of the 3Rs:

• Replacement - using non-animal alternatives wherever possible.
• Reduction - minimising the number of animals required.
• Refinement - improving procedures and care to reduce impacts on animal welfare.
  
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