News and Updates

News and Updates
2010 |2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006

To browse media releases only, see the media releases section.

2010
16 Mar: 27 November 2009 meeting minutes and the 12 March 2010 agenda now available

5 Feb: Annual Report 2008/09

2009
29 Oct: 11 September meeting agenda now available

8 Oct: 10 July meeting minutes now available

12 Aug: Following an amendment to the HART Order 2005, ACART has updated the preamble of its Guidelines on Donation of Eggs or Sperm between Certain Family Members (November 2007) to more accurately describe the established procedure. View the updated version of the guidelines - Guidelines on donations of Eggs or Sperm between Certain Family Members

5 Mar: ACART has recently provided advice to the Minister of Health on the use of frozen eggs in fertility treatment.

16 Jan: May 8 meeting minutes, and 10 July agenda now available

13 Jan: Annual Report 2007/08

12 Jan: Consultation on the Use of In Vitro Maturation in Fertility Treatment: Discussion document

12 Jan: Draft Guidelines on the Use of Donated Eggs in Conjunction with Donated Sperm: Consultation document

2008
26 Nov: ACART has issued advice to ECART on applications for combined assisted reproductive procedures. The advice comes into effect 24 November 2008.

17 Nov: ACART has issuednew Guidelines on Embryo Donation for Reproductive Purposes. These come into effect on 17 November 2008, and replace the Guidelines on Embryo Donation that were published in August 2005. Development of the Guidelines included advice to the Associate Minister of Health.

13 Nov: At its meeting in September 2008 ACART agreed to add the following guidance to guidelines previously issued by ACART and to all future guidelines:

In these guidelines, unless the context indicates otherwise, words should be interpreted in accordance with definitions given in the HART Act 2004 and HART Order 2005.
The following guidelines have been updated to reflect this change:

Guidelines on Donation of Eggs or Sperm between Certain Family Members (November 2007)
Guidelines on Surrogacy Arrangements involving Providers of Fertility Services (November 2007)

29 Sep: Appointments / reappointments to ACART
The Minister of Health has appointed a new member to ACART - Bishop Richard Randerson. The Minister has also reappointed Professor Sylvia Rumball and Professor Gareth Jones to a further term on ACART.

10 Sep: Consultation on Aspects of Assisted Reproductive Technology: Summary of Submissions
Part Three - Embryo donation for reproductive purposes, Part Four - Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, Part Five - Responses to questions 8 -19

23 July: Consultation on the Use of Frozen Eggs in Fertility Treatment: Discussion document
Please take the time to consider the questions included in this document. We would welcome your comments on these, or any other aspect of the document. Although ACART has set out its proposed advice to the Minister, it is open to changing its views. Your comments will help ACART to finalise its recommendations to the Minister on the use of frozen eggs in fertility treatment. Submissions close 5 September 2008.

23 July: Consultation on Draft Guidelines for the Use of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis with Human Leukocyte Antigen Testing
ACART is now consulting on draft guidelines for PGD with HLA tissue typing. These guidelines will be used by the Ethics Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology in considering and determining applications to use the procedure. Submissions close 5 September 2008.

19 Mar: Consultation on Aspects of Assisted Reproductive Technology: Summary of Submissions
ACART has issued the following summaries of submissions: Part One - Surrogacy Arrangements involving Providers of Fertility Services; and Part Two - Donation of Eggs or Sperm between Certain Family Members

30 Nov: Nominations for members of the Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ACART)
The Ministry of Health is currently seeking nominations and applications for members of the Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ACART), on behalf of the Minister of Health. These appointments are for 2008, the process has begun early due to the election next year. Applications close 3 January 2008.

30 Nov: Nominations for members of the Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ACART)
The Ministry of Health is currently seeking nominations and applications for members of the Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ACART), on behalf of the Minister of Health. These appointments are for 2008, the process has begun early due to the election next year. Applications close 3 January 2008.

23 Nov: Media Release: ACART issues guidelines on assisted reproductive procedures
The independent Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ACART) yesterday issued new guidelines to regulate surrogacy arrangements and donations of sperm or eggs between certain family members.

22 Nov: ACART has issued new guidelines to ECART on Surrogacy Arrangements involving Providers of Fertility Services and Donation of Eggs or Sperm between Certain Family Members. These Guidelines come into effect on 22 November 2007 and replace the Guidelines on IVF Surrogacy and Within-family Gamete Donation.

New Guidelines on Embryo Donation for Reproductive Purposes and Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis will be issued at a later date.

2007
Annual Report 2006/07
ACART's 2006/07 Annual Report has been released by the Minister of Health. Appended is the 2006/07 Annual Report of the Ethics Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ECART).

Use Of Gametes and Embryos In Human Reproductive Research: Determining Policy For New Zealand - Research to Supplement Public Consultation on ACART's Discussion Document
This study was commissioned by the Ministry of Health on behalf of ACART (Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology), to canvas views of New Zealanders on whether research involving the use of human gametes and embryos should be permitted in New Zealand, and if such research were permitted, what possible limitations should be applied.

Use of Gametes and Embryos in Human Reproductive Research: Summary of Submissions
ACART has publicly released the Summary of Submissions received in response to its discussion paper - Use of Gametes and Embryos in Human Reproductive Research: Determining Policy for New Zealand.

Advice on Aspects of Assisted Reproductive Technology: A Consultation Paper on Policy Issues (6 Jul 2007)

This consultation paper outlines the use of a range of reproductive technologies in New Zealand, and seeks public comment on the direction of future policy in these areas. The closing date for submissions has been extended to 7 September 2007.

Annual Report 2005/06

ACART's 2005/06 Annual Report has been released by the Minister of Health. Appended is the 2005/06 Annual Report of the Ethics Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ECART).

Media Release: Public Meetings and Hui - Research Using Human Embryos

Should New Zealand allow research using human embryos? If so, under what conditions? ACART invites you to a public meeting to discuss these issues with its panel. Audience members will be encouraged to take part in the debate.

Six New Committee Members Sought
The Ministry of Health is currently seeking nominations for members of ACART. Vacancies exist for six members: A member who is an expert in assisted reproductive procedures; a member with the ability to articulate issues from a disability perspective; a member with the ability to articulate the interests of children (this member must be a representative or employee of the Children's Commissioner); a member with the ability to articulate issues from the perspective of a consumer of assisted reproductive procedures; two members with expertise in Māori customary values and the ability to articulate issues from a Māori perspective.

Applications for these vacancies have closed.

2006
Consultation: Use of Gametes and Embryos in Human Reproductive Research - Determining Policy for New Zealand

Should gamete and embryo research be undertaken in New Zealand and, if so, under what conditions? ACART must advise the Minister of Health on these questions by 30 June 2007. In preparing this advice, ACART must take account of the views of New Zealanders. Consultation on the discussion document Use of Gametes and Embryos in Human Reproductive Research: Determining Policy for New Zealand is now underway. Submissions closed on 2 March 2007.
Media release: New Zealanders' views on human gamete and embryo research wanted.

Page last updated: 16 March 2010