Live animal and cadaver use

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the process of acquiring, maintaining, and enhancing the skills and knowledge needed for professional practice. Quality CPD is a cornerstone for all veterinary professionals, enabling a more knowledgeable, competent, and confident veterinary workforce.

The objective of CPD is to ensure professionals, at any stage of their career, are competent and confident in their field. All practising veterinarians registered with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand (VCNZ) must undertake CPD annually.

Animal welfare and ethics (including evolving societal views) are important considerations in the ongoing use of live animals and cadaver material in teaching. We acknowledge that aspects of live animals and animal cadaver material use may create concern for some New Zealanders.

Subject to the primacy of animal welfare and safety considerations, the NZVA supports the use of both live animals and animal cadaver material for CPD. Our long-term goal is the replacement of all animals used in teaching, as allowed for by developments in science, technology, and law.

Animal welfare and ethics (including evolving societal views) are important considerations that will continue to inform and influence the NZVA’s use of live animals and cadaver material in teaching.

Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching in New Zealand

The NZVA has signed the Australia New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART) Openness Agreement on animal research and teaching in New Zealand.

We support the principles of the '3 Rs' (Replace, Reduce, and Refine) in the use of live animal and cadaver material for education. The NZVA recognises the importance of demonstrating and promoting both the values of the 3Rs and the five commitments of the Openness Agreement.

The agreement is a New Zealand initiative supported by ANZCCART and is consistent with international approaches in this area.

We are committed to publishing the NZVA’s view and use data in accordance with this agreement.

All live animal and cadaver material used for educational purposes must be ethically obtained.

> Read the ANZCCART Openness Agreement

> Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching in New Zealand [PDF, 2025]

Live animal and cadaver use

Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching in New Zealand

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