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Media Information This page provides information on recent press releases, an image database, and web resources related to the use of animals in research, testing or teaching. Press releases 6 July 2026: 274,985 animals used in research, testing and teaching in New Zealand in 2025, according to new government figures 10 March 2026: Transparency, public access, and Māori partnership surge across animal research in Aotearoa— ANZCCART report 21 January 2026: ANZCCART NZ responds to Ministry for Primary Industries’ release of 2024 statistics on the use of animals in research, testing and teaching 20 March 2025: ANZCCART NZ releases third annual report on Openness Agreement for animal research and teaching 20 March 2025: ANZCCART NZ responds to New Zealand's animal research statistics for 2023 10th September 2024: New animal ethics resources include Māori knowledge 17 May 2024: A good step-up in Three Rs reporting and other positive trends: 2022 New Zealand Animal Research, Testing and Teaching Statistics 8 March 2024: ANZCCART New Zealand releases second annual report on Openness Agreement for animal research and teaching 13 November 2023: New Study Reveals New Zealanders' Views on Animal Use in Scientific Research and Teaching 21 August 2023: A step forward in openness in animal research and teaching but more progress needed in Three Rs reporting: New Zealand's Animal Research Statistics of 2021 30 March 2023: ANZCCART releases first report on Openness Agreement in Animal Research and Teaching 30 May 2022: Openness on use of animals in research testing and teaching statistics 27 July 2021: Science organisations pledge openness in animal research and teaching in New Zealand 1 September 2017: New resources highlight innovative ways to replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research Submissions 21 May 2024: Submission to the Science System Advisory Group - First Phase Media coverage 04 February 2026: Decline in high impact on animals from research 'encouraging ' 24 September 2024: Maori knowledge of animals 21 March 2024: Global initiative to make animal research more transparent turns 10 – has it worked? 13 November 2023: Attitudes towards animal testing and research in Aotearoa – Expert Reaction Image database for the use of animals in research, testing or teaching An image database featuring copyright free images of animals suitable for use in stories on animal use in testing, teaching and research is available through the Understanding Animal Use website (UK based). This website also contains a number of resources on the use of animals in research.

Openness Agreement The New Zealand Board of the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART), a Committee of the Royal Society Te Apārangi, has supported the development of an Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching for New Zealand. A draft version of the Agreement went out for consultation in 2020/21, and was launched at the ANZCCART 2021 conference on 27 July 2021: Press release about launch of Openness Agreement Media coverage: New Zealand Herald ; Science Media Centre NZ ; Radio New Zealand ; Farmers Weekly; the Mandarin New Zealand has long been committed to maintaining and improving high standards of animal welfare as well as undertaking world-leading research and teaching using animals. Those involved in research have an obligation to demonstrate and promote these values, and in order to be seen as trustworthy they must be open, transparent, and accountable for the research and teaching that they conduct, fund or support, including when the high standards they strive for are not achieved. Doing more to communicate the context in which animal research and teaching takes place, the work that organisations undertake to incorporate the Three Rs (the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of animals), the regulations that govern this research, and the systems that are in place to report and rectify poor practice is key. The objective of this Agreement is to ensure that the public are well informed about what animal research involves, the role it plays in the overall process of scientific discovery, how such research is regulated in New Zealand, and what researchers and animal care staff do to promote welfare, reduce animal usage and minimise suffering and harm to the animals. Several countries have now implemented (or are actively working on) formal ‘openness agreements’ to improve public understanding of animal research. Under such agreements, stakeholders make a public pledge to be more open about their involvement in animal research and explain details and reasons underlying it. The European Animal Research Association has several examples of openness agr eements. The longest established openness agreement is the UK Concordat on Openness on Animal Research . The UK Concordat has operated successfully since 2014 and now has over 120 signatories representing leading universities, research institutes, government agencies, funders and industry. Commit m e nts The Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching in New Zealand sets out five Commitments that require signatories to take steps to be more open about the use of animals in research and teaching. The five commitments are: We will be clear about why and how we use animals in research and teachin g. We will enhance our communications with the media and the public about our use of animals in research and teaching. We will be proactive in providing opportunities for the public to find out about research and teaching using animals. We will enhance our communications with tangata whenua about our use of animals in research and teaching. We will report on progress annually and share our experiences. Following a review of the Agreement in 2024, an additional category of "Supporter" was added as a type of signatory for organisations that do not conduct animal research or teaching directly but have indirect involvement in ways such as providing funding, regulatory oversight, supplying equipment or animals for, or serving as professional bodies. View the agreement here: ANZCCART Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching in New Zealand – 2025 Openness Agreement Annual Report Signatories report annually on their progress and share experiences: 2022 An nual Report: Download (Press Release ) (infographic ) 2023 Annual Report: Download (Press Re lease ) (infographic ) 2024 Annual Report: Download (Press Release ) (infographic ) 2025 Annual Report: Download (Press Release ) (infographic ) Signatories The signatories to this agreement are: Research & Teaching Signatories Supporter Signatories If your organisation would like to join the Agreement, please contact: anzccart@royalsociety.org.nz

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Contact ANZCCART New Zealand c/o Royal Society Te Apārangi PO Box 598 Wellington, 6140 New Zealand Phone: +64 4-472 7421 Email ANZCCART Australia C/- The University of Adelaide SA 5005 Australia Phone: +618 8313 7585 Website Email How to Contact ANZCCART (NZ) Board Members for Media Comments ANZCCART (NZ) board members are generally happy to be contacted for comment. Please contact the ANZCCART (NZ) Executive Officer at the Royal Society Te Apārangi (anzccart@royalsociety.org.nz ) and they will forward your request to the appropriate member.

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ANZCCART Resources ComPass Animal Welfare Training This free online course covers the Australian Code and NZ Guide and welfare issues relating to animal use in research and teaching. Successful completion of Phase one of the course and its quiz fulfills the mandated basic training needs of researchers and teachers using animals as well as members of Animal Ethics Committees (AEC) in Australia and NZ (except AEC members in Victoria who are required to complete the Animal Welfare Victoria training). The aim is to standardize and augment the training offered for animal users in research and teaching throughout Australasia by offering this free online interactive and resource-rich course to all who need this training . For the course link and more information . ANZCCART (NZ) resources and best practice Three Rs Resources The Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Rese arch and Te aching (ANZCCART) and the Ministry for Primary Industries have produced a series of booklet s on the a pplication of the three Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) in the use of animals in research and teaching. Organ-on-a-chip and Organoids (replacement) (2026) Cell-based Disease Models (replacement) (2019) Computer Assisted Learning (replacement) (2021) Mannequins and Dummies (replacement) (2021) Alternatives to shellfish toxicity testing (replacement) (2018) Fireflies to the rescue (reduction) (2019) Mathematical models (reduction) (2022) Tissue sharing (reduction) (2024) Simple ingenuity (refinement) (2019) Non-Invasive Methods (refinement) (2018) Living syringes (refinement) (2018) Oil emulsified gels (refinement) (2022) Other resources Animal research saves lives (2017 ANZCCART publication) What is ANZCCART? (2017 ANZCCART flyer) Download Three Rs poster (ANZCCART resource) (PDF, 6.7 MB, 1 page) ANZCCART (Australia) resources and best practice Publications and information available on the ANZCCART (AU) website on the use of animals in research, testing or teaching: ANZCCART Annual Reports ANZCCART (AU) Awards ANZCCART (AU) Publications ANZCCART (AU) Fact Sheets about animals and technical information ANZCCART (AU) Helpful links on alternatives to the use of animals in research, animal ethics and welfare, environmental enrichment, recognition and alleviation of pain, and statistics ANZCCART (AU) Resources for animal care and housing, school children, school teachers, researchers and university students Newsletters ANZCCART News (Australian website). Y ou can sign up for the ANZCCART Newsletter here .

Members and Funders Along with Unitec - Dept Natural Sciences. If you would like to become a member of ANZCCART New Zealand, please contact: anzccart@royalsociety.org.nz