National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee

NAWAC's role in animal welfare

NAWAC gives the Minister for Primary Industries advice on:

• the welfare of animals in New Zealand
• animal welfare research needs
• legislative proposals
• codes of welfare
• regulations
• traps and devices
• hunting and killing animals in a wild state.

Section 57 of the Animal Welfare Act 1999 lists all of NAWAC's functions.

Find out more

• Codes of welfare
• The Animal Welfare Act – NZ Legislation website

NAWAC's work

NAWAC prioritises its work to make the most of its limited resources while improving animal welfare in New Zealand. NAWAC uses a framework to decide which animal welfare issues to address first. The committee updates its work programme every year.

Download NAWAC's prioritisation framework

Download the 2015 work programme

Guidelines

NAWAC has published guidelines explaining how the committee works. It updates the guidelines regularly to reflect the experiences gained during NAWAC's deliberations.

These guidelines are not a legal interpretation of the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

1. Approach to the consideration of draft codes of welfare
2. Dealing with practices which might be inconsistent with the spirit of the Animal Welfare Act
3. Setting minimum standards where section 73(3) applies
4. Process for the development of codes of welfare
5. Role of science in setting animal welfare standards
6. Wider issues relevant to setting minimum standards
7. Taking account of society’s ethical values, technical viewpoints and public opinion
8. Balancing animal welfare needs
9. Assessing the welfare performance of restraining and kill traps
10. Phasing out one animal management system in favour of another
11. Principles of consultation
12. Prioritisation framework
13. Review of the use of farrowing crates for pigs in New Zealand

Meetings

NAWAC holds 4 ordinary meetings a year. Summaries from the meetings are published on this website, or you can request copies – email nawac@mpi.govt.nz .

• 17 February 2016
• 4 November 2015
• 5 August 2015
• 20 May 2015
• 10 March 2015
• 5 November 2014
• 6 August 2014
• 14 May 2014

Annual Reports

NAWAC produces an annual report which covers all of its operations for the year, including work on codes of welfare and regulations, and updates on research.

Download the latest NAWAC annual report

• Browse for older annual reports

Membership of NAWAC

NAWAC is made up of a chairperson, the chairperson of the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee, and up to 9 other members. The Animal Welfare Act 1999 lays out requirements for membership. Members are chosen for their expertise and need a range of knowledge and experience including:

• veterinary science
• agricultural science
• animal science
• commercial use of animals
• care, breeding and management of companion animals
• ethical standards and conduct in respect of animals
• animal welfare advocacy
• understanding of the public's interest in animals
• environmental and conservation management.

Find out who is on the committee

Vacancies

Members can be nominated by a relevant organisation but do not represent the nominating organisation on the committee. Any vacancies on the committee are also advertised on this website and the Government's jobs website.

• Browse MPI's current vacancies and register for email alerts
• Search for governance board vacancies on Jobs.govt.nz

Who to contact

If you have questions about the committee, email nawac@mpi.govt.nz .