Auckland University of Technology
Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, NZ
T: +64 9 921 9999
www.aut.ac.nz
Annelies Basten
[FYI request #13888 email]
27 October 2020
Dear Annalies
Thank you for your enquiry under the Official Information Act asking the following:
Breeding Units
Does your institution maintain a breeding unit to supply animals for research, testing and teaching
(RTT)?
If yes, then I would also like answers to the following questions covering the 2018, 2019 years and
2020 to date if possible please:
• What species/type of animals are/were bred?
• What is the status of the animal types bred? (‘status’ is used in the same way as it is on the
Animal Manipulation Figures reporting form required to be completed by the Ministry for Primary
Industires (MPI))
• How many animals bred in the breeding unit are/were used for RTT and what portion of the
total number of animals for each type bred does this represent?
• How many animals of the different types bred are then euthanised so their bodies or body
parts can be used in RTT?
• What happens to animals bred and not required for RTT or euthanised for their bodies or
body parts to be used in RTT and how many animals of each?
• What happens to animals used for breeding once they are no longer used for breeding from?
If the precise figures are not available then approximations with an estimation of the size of the
uncertainty in the numbers would be appreciated.
I would also like copies of any photos or video (digital copies if possible) of the inside of the
breeding facilities showing the animal housing taken in the last five years. (please note it is
expected that any images that include staff members or students will be edited to remove people).
In addition to this I would like to ask the following:
AEC applications
For the 2018, 2019 years and 2020 year to date I would like the following information for your
Animal Ethics Committe (AEC).
If you don’t have your own AEC and you use a parent AEC then please let me know and don’t worry
about answering the questions below.
• The number of applications for approval received
• The number of those applications approved as submitted, no changes required
• The number of those applications approved after changes were requested by the AEC and
then made
• The number of those applications declined.
Fistulated animals
• Does your institute currently have any fistulated animals on their premises, if so, how many
Auckland University of Technology
Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, NZ
T: +64 9 921 9999
www.aut.ac.nz
and what species? Please provide photos.
• Has anyone applied to fistulate any animals to your AEC in the past 5 years, if so, can we have
copies of the approved AEC applications?
• Are there are projects currently underway involving the fistulation of animals?
In response:
• AUT does not have any animal breeding facilities for research purposes.
• We do not have an Animal Ethics Committee.
• We have no fistulated or cannulated animals at AUT. Animals in this context excludes
humans.
Yours sincerely
Alison Sykora
Head of Communications
Auckland University of Technology
