There has been a lot happening at NZAVS! We’re sharing some exciting updates from our Kind Education pilot, celebrating a new Grant win, bringing you an update on the work towards a Commissioner for Animals, and sharing Animal-Free Research news from the USA.
Plus, in this newsletter you will find out what you can do to help NZAVS. We’re making a final push for your free vote on MyGivingCircle, and for Gifts in Wills month, we’re sharing EveryWill, a free platform that makes creating your Will easy.
In the coming weeks, we’ll also be sharing where political parties stand on the future of animal use in science. We recently sent a questionnaire to political parties asking whether they support phasing out the use of animals in research, testing and teaching in Aotearoa, and whether they would support government funding for the development and uptake of non-animal methods. We’ll share their responses with you ahead of the election, so you can see where each party stands on these important issues.
Kind Education survey winner
Earlier this year, NZAVS surveyed schools across Aotearoa to learn more about how animals are currently used in science education, and what alternatives schools are already using or would like access to. As a thank you, every school that completed the survey went into the draw to win an anatomical torso model.
We were very excited to share an anatomical torso model to Katikati College, who received the prize for taking part in our recent Kind Education survey.
They’ve even given their new model a name – Sam!
We were especially pleased to hear how Sam is making science more accessible. A blind student was able to explore the model by feeling the different organs, before recreating their size and shape with play dough while discussing what each organ does. She had never experienced anatomy this way and loved it.
This is a wonderful example of what Kind Education can make possible. Engaging and inclusive science education that gives students the opportunity to learn without the use of animals.
Update on the Commissioner for Animals
Earlier this year, NZAVS stood alongside more than 20 animal protection organisations as part of the Commissioner for Animals Alliance, supporting a petition calling for an independent Commissioner for Animals in Aotearoa. The petition asked for a Commissioner for Animals who could scrutinise the system, report to Parliament and help ensure animals’ interests are independently represented, including animals used in research, testing and teaching.
We have an important update to share: The Petitions Committee has formally recommended that the Government investigate how oversight of the animal welfare system could be improved. While the Committee did not specifically recommend establishing a Commissioner at this stage, it acknowledged concerns about the current system and recognised the need to look further at independent oversight and accountability.
We believe this is a meaningful step forward. The issue of independent oversight for animal welfare is being taken seriously by the Government, and the case for a system that is more transparent and accountable continues to gain attention. While we believe this falls short of a commitment to establish a Commissioner for Animals, we acknowledge it is still an important step.
Thank you to everyone who signed the petition and to our fellow organisations in the Commissioner for Animals Alliance. NZAVS will keep pushing for stronger independent oversight for all animals in Aotearoa, including those used in research, testing and teaching.
Read the full report here (external page)!
We’ve received a grant for Kind Education!
We’re thrilled to share that NZAVS has been awarded a generous $15,000 grant from Voiceless to support our Kind Education pilot!
The Voiceless team were particularly inspired by Jade’s ability to communicate the very real challenges students face in accessing animal-free science education,alongside the number of animals still being used in classrooms.
The pilot will provide funding directly to participating education providers, including two schools receiving $5,000 each and one university receiving $10,000, to help replace dissections with alternatives such as anatomical models, virtual dissection technology and other reusable teaching tools. We will also survey teachers and students before and after using the replacement models to better understand the impact these alternatives have on learning, engagement and classroom experience. The goal is not only to replace animal use in these classrooms, but to gather evidence that can help make the case for wider change across New Zealand.
The Kind Education pilot has also been made possible thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, who helped us raise $5,000 through our Christmas campaign. We are very grateful to everyone who donated - thank you for helping us to end dissections in New Zealand classrooms.
Voiceless’ grant programme supports impactful initiatives that contribute towards ‘a just, equitable world where animals can flourish.’ We’re incredibly grateful to have their support behind Kind Education and this next step towards a future where animals are no longer used for teaching.
Read more about Voiceless here (external page)!
U.S. Update
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced actions that span HHS’ research, regulatory, and public health agencies and expand the use of human-based science from the laboratory bench to federal regulatory review. Among the most exciting initiatives are:
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a direct final rule, updating its regulations to replace terms like “animal tests” and “animal studies” with the terms “nonclinical tests” and “nonclinical studies.” It also removes language that could suggest that animal testing is the only acceptable way to generate safety information for regulatory decisions in products intended for human use. This ruling enables applicants and regulators to use validated non-animal methods instead of animal testing were possible.
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced more than 88 million USD (~ 155 million NZD) in funding for biomedical infrastructure projects nationwide and a new challenge offering over 7 million USD (~ 12 million NZD) in awards towards projects focused on New Approach Methodologies.
- A state-of-the-art laboratory at the NIH Clinical Center will integrate standardised human organoid models, robotics, AI, and advanced data capabilities to enable experiments on reproducible human biological systems.
Phillip Wollen Presentation
Philip Wollen is an internationally renowned animal advocate, philanthropist, and humanitarian who has supported more than 850 initiatives across the world.
We were extremely grateful to be joined by Philip for a powerful and inspiring presentation that put into perspective the impact and importance of living your values. A vision of a compassionate world is at the heart of everything we do at NZAVS.
If you weren't able to join us, or would like to revisit the discussion, we're delighted to share the recording of the presentation. We hope Philip's powerful message inspires you as much as it inspired us.
Watch the recording on Youtube!
Gifts in Wills Month
Why a gift in your Will can make a difference to NZAVS
A gift in your Will is a powerful way to help create a future where animals are no longer used in experimentation. Even leaving just 1% of your estate to NZAVS can make a meaningful difference, while ensuring the people and causes closest to you come first.
We know that traditional Will planning can sometimes feel time-consuming or costly. That’s why NZAVS has partnered with EveryWill, a free and easy-to-use Will-writing service.
Write your free Will with EveryWill!
MyGivingCircle
We’ve got a pretty exciting MyGivingCircle update to share. In the space of just two weeks, we’ve gone from 13th place to 8th and received over $1,000 in donations.
That means we’re now sitting in the top 10 and, if we can stay there until the round closes, NZAVS will receive a $1,000 grant!
MyGivingCircle is a giving platform where supporters can vote for the charities they care about, helping them climb the leaderboard and win grants. Voting weekly is completely free, and every vote helps!
Vote for NZAVS on MyGivingCircle (external page)!
Thank you so much to everyone who has already voted, donated and shared. We’re so close!
We couldn't do this without you!
Thank you for being part of the NZAVS community and standing with us to end the harmful use of animals in science. Your engagement and support help strengthen our advocacy, education, and push for humane, scientifically valid alternatives across Aotearoa.
If you're able to support our work further, a donation today will help us continue advancing our ability to fund ethical science and holding decision‑makers to account. Every contribution strengthens our ability to create lasting change for animals.
We look forward to sharing more updates with you soon.
