Supporting ethical animal research with integrity, simplicity and support.
Tika Ethics is an independent animal ethics committee, wholly owned by EpiVets Ltd but operating separately to ensure impartiality, transparency, and the highest standards of animal welfare. Specialising in research involving livestock and production animals, Tika Ethics helps organisations navigate the ethics approval process with clarity, compassion, and expert support.
Whether you’re conducting research with cattle, sheep, goats, alpacas, llamas, pigs, or horses, Tika Ethics provides a straightforward and supportive approval process that meets New Zealand’s Animal Welfare Act 1999 requirements.
You’ll communicate directly with our friendly secretary, Nicola, who can assist with application edits, reminders, and logistics.
We use intuitive Word-based forms with clear tracked changes to streamline the review process.
Use our templates or your own. We just need evidence that your team is trained and ready.
We manage your animal usage stats and remind you of due reports, so nothing gets missed.
Improve your chances of fast approval with our internal pre-check process.
Research involving fistulated cattle or other facility-specific needs can be considered.
Tika Ethics was established by EpiVets Ltd to meet a growing demand for a more practical and researcher-friendly ethics committee. While it is a subsidiary of EpiVets, Tika Ethics operates as an independent ethics body with its own governance structure, processes, and confidentiality safeguards.
All submitted documentation is handled with the strictest confidentiality. Only authorised Tika Ethics personnel can access your files. EpiVets clinical research staff do not have access, and NDAs are available for additional peace of mind.
This ensures that any research applications submitted to Tika Ethics are reviewed fairly, independently, and with the highest level of integrity.
Tika Ethics operates under a robust Code of Ethical Conduct, which sets out the ethical principles, responsibilities, and expectations for all organisations “parented” under our committee. This code ensures:
Researchers are required to read and understand the Code of Ethical Conduct as part of their onboarding process.
EpiVets’ Animal Ethics Committee is comprised of professionals with a diverse range of expertise in animal welfare, veterinary science, and farming. The committee operates under Section 101 of the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and includes statutory members, a dedicated chair, and a committee secretary. Together, they ensure all research reviewed is held to the highest ethical standards.
Dr Ali Cullum
Ali brings deep veterinary and ethics expertise to the AEC. Appointed as Chair on behalf of Tika Ethics, she is a former member of the University of Waikato Ethics Committee and has extensive experience supporting ethical decision-making in animal research.
Nicola Aitken
Nicola is your first point of contact for all AEC queries. With over 17 years in the agricultural industry, she has managed TB and Mycoplasma bovis testing programmes across New Zealand. Nicola is here to assist researchers through every step of the ethics approval process.
Stephen Hopkinson
NZVA-nominated veterinarian
CEO of Taranaki Vets and experienced large animal vet.
(Alternate: Lucy Cameron, The Veterinary Centre Waimate)
Alison Vaughan
RNZSPCA-nominated member
Scientific Officer at SPCA, with a background in farming and animal science.
Mark Hurst
Regional council-nominated representative
A farmer based in Otago, bringing practical agricultural insight to the committee.
Helene Baigent
Senior EpiVets representative
A veterinarian and regulatory specialist with extensive experience in the New Zealand research environment.
Additional members may be appointed as needed to ensure the committee reflects a well-rounded and informed perspective on animal welfare and research ethics.
We aim to make the animal research ethics process as transparent and supportive as possible. Here’s how it works:
Approved projects can only begin after formal written approval has been received.
We also provide reminders, reports, and tracking tools to help you stay on top of all compliance obligations.
Tika Ethics is here to make animal research ethics simpler, more approachable, and fully compliant. If you’re ready to begin or just want to learn more, download our welcome pack here, or get in touch:
Contact: info@tikaethics.co.nz
Visit: www.tikaethics.co.nz (Coming soon)
EpiVets carries the IANZ and NATA mark of competence for Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) in both New Zealand and Australia