WIN: Massey University is the first institute to publish a Statement of Intent to publicly show it is ‘committed to replacing the use of animals for science, wherever possible, as technology permits.’

This statement of intent signals to the university’s current and future students, as well as to more than 100 institutes around Aotearoa, that it takes replacing the use of animals for science seriously!

HOW THE WIN WAS WON:

There are no wins without the work. Building trusted relationships can take several years, but together we did it!

The issue: Through our Striking at the Source campaign and together with you and the science and research industry - NZAVS has repeatedly presented a case for scientific change to the New Zealand Government and at a pivotal Select Committee to ultimately replace and, therefore, phase out the harmful use of animals for science in Aotearoa.

As part of that case, we have pushed for policy and law change for Aotearoa to categorically commit to phasing out the use of animals for science as technology permits. By doing so, we want New Zealand to match other jurisdictions like the US, UK and the EU that have set a clear direction at the government level for institutes using animals for science to adhere to.

The solution: Instead of just waiting for the NZ government to enact this policy and law change, NZAVS has been collaborating with the animal science and research industry, itself,  to ultimately replace and, therefore, phase out the harmful use of animals for science in Aotearoa.

Where government leadership is lacking, we have been building trusted relationships to drive change for animals through industry leadership instead.

Tactics included:

• Inviting more than 100 organisations from the animal science and research industry to provide feedback on our Striking at the Source petition, to evaluate what policy changes we are united on.
• Building trusted relationships with key members from the animal science and research industry and collaborating on enacting policy changes that unite us.
• Presenting at the Australian & New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART) Conferences to consistently push a clear message of what our supporters and therefore the public wants for animals used in science.
• Respectfully requesting that the 100 institutes+ across New Zealand adopt a Statement of Intent that clearly states that they are ‘committed to replacing the use of animals for science, wherever possible, as technology permits.’‍
• Assisting motivated staff within those institutes to broker this Statement of Intent at an organisational level.

WE WILL NOT STOP THERE

Together with you, we’re now urging more than 100 institutes using animals for science to make the same commitment as Massey University and we know we can 100% count on you to get each of these institutes over the line.

Delivering industry leadership will ultimately trigger government leadership and we look forward to pushing both the policy and law changes we seek for animals trapped in experimentation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to our fierce supporters who we surveyed to discover the top changes they would like to see institutes in NZ make for animals used in science. Their answer came through loud and clear and Massey University delivered on it, word for word with this agreed Statement of Intent.

NZAVS applauds this ‘scientific breakthrough’, and we thank Massey University for leading the way in Aotearoa for animals used in science. ‍

For an industry player to make a powerful change before the government intervenes is MASSIVE. This mahi cannot be underestimated.