Ministerially appointed member(s) of the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) | National

Job Description

Expression of Interest

National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee

Location: Members can be based nationwide

Expressions of interest sought for: Ministerially appointed member(s) of the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC)

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, is seeking expressions of interest for member(s) of the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC). Appointments are made, for a maximum term of three years, by the Minister of Agriculture who is required to ensure that the committee has knowledge and experience in certain relevant areas.  

NAEAC is a statutory committee, established under the Animal Welfare Act 1999  (the Act) to provide advice and recommendations to the government minister responsible for animal welfare and the Director-General of MPI. NAEAC provides thought leadership relating to the ethical use of animals in research, testing, and teaching.

This is not a salaried MPI position. MPI will be facilitating the nomination/application process on behalf of the Minister's office. Appointees will be subject to an interview, a background check and must complete a conflict of interest disclosure.

The committee's advisory functions include:

• Advising the Minister on ethical and animal welfare issues arising from the use of animals in research, testing and teaching;
• Providing recommendations for the appointment of accredited reviewers;
• Providing advice and information on the development and review of codes of ethical conduct;
• Providing recommendations to the Director-General of MPI on the approval, amendment, suspension or revocation of codes of ethical conduct.

You can find more information about NAEAC on their website  here, and more information on their functions under Section 63 of the Act. 

To be eligible, you must:

• Be able to serve a term of three years;
• Not be a current employee in the public service;
• Be willing to disclose any financial, professional, and personal interests which may conflict with the obligations of NAEAC;
• Be a New Zealand citizens or resident.

Further to this, to meet the committee's obligations, committee members come from a variety of backgrounds, disciplines, and have a wide range of experience. You may come from a relevant nominating agency, work in an adjacent professional field related to the manipulation of animals or have expertise in animal-based learning.

Ideally, committee members will have expertise in one or more of the following area, outlined in Section 64 of the Act:

• Veterinary science;
• Medical science;
• Biological science;
• The commercial use of animals in research and testing;
• Ethical standards and conduct in respect of animals;
• Education issues, including the use of animals in schools;
• The manipulation of animals in research, testing, and teaching;
• Environmental and conservation management;
• Animal welfare advocacy.

NAEAC meets five times each year either in person (typically in Wellington) or online. A committee member can expect to spend roughly 10-15 hours per month on committee business, including meeting preparation. Successful appointees are entitled to reimbursement of travelling expenses and a daily fee of $400 for meeting attendance and meeting preparation.

Application process

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities.

In your cover letter we'd like to know about you, your values; your interest and motivations for this role; the abilities, strengths, personal attributes and diverse perspectives you will bring to the role and this committee, which may have also been gained outside of the workforce.

To view the position description and/or apply online, please apply via this advert or visit the MPI Careers Site. To apply, you must hold the right to work in New Zealand or be eligible to obtain it – click here to find out more about work visa eligibility and options.

Applications close at 11:59pm on 25 August 2025.

If you have any questions about the role, please email the Animal Welfare Team at animalwelfare@mpi.govt.nz