Our Terms Of Reference

Terms of Reference in Māori.

Goal

To enhance New Zealand's understanding of the cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology and ensure that the use of biotechnology has regard for the values held by New Zealanders.

Role

Toi Te Taiao: The Bioethics Council is a ministerial advisory committee to:

1. Provide independent advice to Government on biotechnological issues involving significant cultural, ethical and spiritual dimensions.
2. Promote and participate in public dialogue on cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology, and enable public participation in the Council's activities.
3. Provide information on the cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology.

Key tasks

In undertaking its functions the committee is expected to:

1. Advise the Government on biotechnological issues of national importance involving significant cultural, ethical and spiritual dimensions and guide decision-makers on these matters. The advice will be made public and should:

• Take account of the values of New Zealanders.
• Take into account the social context and dimensions of biotechnology and the issues it generates.
• Articulate and report on the diversity of views on an issue.
• Be guided by values and views held in common as well as identifying areas where a diversity of values and views remain, in particular those created by Treaty issues.

2. Demonstrate its commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi including its responsibility to consult and engage with Māori in a manner that specifically provides for their needs.

3. Act as a public forum for dialogue on ethical, cultural and spiritual dimensions associated with the use of biotechnology, and publish reports.

4. Develop and implement other strategies to involve, communicate and consult with the public and other stakeholders about the ethical, cultural and spiritual dimensions of biotechnology. These strategies will seek to contribute to the building of trust between the public and various stakeholders.

5. Co-ordinate with other advisory and decision-making bodies relative to policy development in ethics and values with a view to promoting consistency and minimising duplication between existing ethics advisory bodies.

6. Maintain a watching brief, with a view to facilitating public understanding of underlying values and ethics, on:

• Different "world views" and other interdisciplinary topics related to biotechnology.
• The implications of those world views to Treaty issues.
• Through a "future watch" function to monitor emerging issues and developments in biotechnology.

7. Establish and sustain links with similar international fora dealing with similar issues.

8. Develop the means to assess the effectiveness of its activities.