Application
This policy applies to all staff, researchers, students, and collaborators involved in the use of animals in research and teaching under the auspices of Dairy Trust Taranaki (DTT).
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to outline Dairy Trust Taranaki’s approach to openness in animal research and teaching, in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and as a signatory to the ANZCCART Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching in New Zealand. It demonstrates our commitment to transparency, ethical responsibility, and high standards of animal welfare in all aspects of our research and teaching.
Introduction
Dairy Trust Taranaki (DTT) conducts research and education to advance sustainable, resilient, and welfare-focused dairy farming practices in New Zealand. As part of this work, animals (primarily dairy cattle) are involved in research and teaching activities that generate knowledge to benefit farmers, the dairy industry, and wider society.
In April 2024, DTT became a signatory to the ANZCCART Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching. By signing this agreement, we committed to being open about the role of animals in our research and teaching and to ensuring that the public has access to accurate and balanced information about why and how animals are used.
The Agreement sets out five commitments that guide our approach. We commit to being clear about why and how we use animals; to enhancing communication with the public, the media, and tangata whenua; to providing opportunities for public engagement; and to reporting annually on our progress and experiences.
Principles
DTT acknowledges the importance of animal welfare and the ethical responsibility associated with the use of animals in research and teaching. We comply fully with the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and the Code of Ethical Conduct for the Use of Animals in Research, Testing and Teaching. All research projects involving animals are reviewed and approved by an independent Animal Ethics Committee to ensure that animal use is scientifically justified and conducted to the highest welfare standards.
In our research and teaching, DTT applies the internationally recognised principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (the 3Rs). We seek to replace the use of animals with alternatives wherever possible, reduce the number of animals used to the minimum required for robust results, and refine our methods to minimise pain, distress, or lasting harm.
We also recognise Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the need for openness and engagement with tangata whenua. DTT is committed to incorporating tikanga Māori approaches to openness and to engaging early and inclusively when research involves matters of significance to iwi, hapū, or local communities.
Transparency is also demonstrated through our adherence to best-practice international guidelines such as the PREPARE (Planning Research and Experimental Procedures on Animals: Recommendations for Excellence) and ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) frameworks. These guidelines ensure that research is designed, reported, and communicated in ways that maximise animal welfare, scientific integrity, and reproducibility.
Policy
Dairy Trust Taranaki will report annually to ANZCCART on the actions we have taken to fulfil our commitments under the Openness Agreement and on the effectiveness of our strategies. The General Manager, supported by the Head of Science, the Operations Manager and relevant research staff, will be the first point of contact for enquiries about DTT’s use of animals in research and teaching.
This policy will be reviewed every three years, or sooner if required by changes to law, regulation, or best practice. It will be published on DTT’s website and shared with stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability.
Definitions
The Animal Welfare Act 1999 sets out New Zealand’s legal framework for the care and use of animals in research, testing, and teaching, and is administered by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). The ANZCCART Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching in New Zealand provides a framework for organisations to enhance communication and public engagement around the use of animals. The **3Rs: Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement
**are internationally recognised principles that guide ethical animal research.
The ANZCCART Openness Agreement 2024 Annual Report was released in March 2025. For previous reports, please check here.