The purpose of Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council

The purpose of Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council, is to:

• Enhance New Zealand's understanding of the cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology.
• Ensure that the use of biotechnology has regard for the values of New Zealanders.

How we work

We are independent

Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council:

• Is independent, free to explore critical issues in an open and participatory way.
• Can provide advice reflecting diverse views (the Council is not required to provide advice based on a consensus of opinion).
• Aims to gain moral authority in the community, based on respect for its advice.

We advise the Government

The Government looks to the Bioethics Council for advice about New Zealanders' cultural, ethical and spiritual views in relation to biotechnology.

This advice is not binding on the Government. However, because it is based on extensive dialogue with New Zealanders, the Government has indicated it will pay close attention to the Council's advice and/or recommendations.

We set our own work programme

The Council meets regularly, and has established several working groups that meet separately to advance specific areas. The Māori working group identifies with biotechnology from a Māori perpective and as a Treaty of Waitangi partner. This work group also looks at the entwined relationship between tikanga Māori and biotechnology and provides ways for Māori to engage in dialogue on biotechnology. Māori working group projects include:

• arranging dialogue with Māori communities
• developing background papers and reports
• giving advice to the Council on Māori issues
• compiling resources.

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