Frequently Asked Questions

When do applications close?

For standard and koha review at the monthly meeting, applications close at 6pm on the 15th of each month (except December). Applications are reviewed at the end of each month. Expedited reviews do not have closing dates .

Please note that we are closed over the Christmas period and will not be able to review applications or responses during that time.

I’m in a hurry can I get a review sooner?

Yes. We can offer Expedited Review with feedback returned within 7-10 days. However, we do have limited capacity for expedited reviews, so we strongly advise contacting us at admin@aotearoaresearchethics.org to check capacity and minimise delays. This service carries an increased fee.

For more details see REVIEW PROCESS

What if my research is health-related?

AREC cannot review research that falls within the purview of the Health and Disability Ethics Committee (HDEC). We suggest you follow the guidelines outlined on the HDEC website or email the HDEC Secretariat.

If HDEC deems your project is out-of-scope for HDEC review, AREC may then be able to offer ethical review. We will ask you to confirm your project will not require HDEC review and we will need to see proof that you have sought clarification from HDEC, such as an email from HDEC confirming that your study does not require HDEC review.

Note: If your project is funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) then NEAC Standards stipulate that the project must be reviewed by a HRC approved ethics committee i.e. HDEC or one of the tertiary institutions (see NEAC Standards, pp 19-20) https://neac.health.govt.nz/publications-and-resources/neac-publications/national-ethical-standards-for-health-and-disability-research-and-quality-improvement

When can I expect approval?

Several factors affect how long the review process takes: how many issues the review identifies, how long it takes applicants to craft and return a response to the review, and whether the committee needs to seek further clarification on some points. Once we receive the response to the review, we aim to review it within a week. For more details see REVIEW PROCESS

I’m not sure how to fill out the application form – can I talk to someone?

Yes. If you want to talk through your application, you can contact the coordinator at admin@aotearoaresearchethics.org

How long do I have to respond to the review? / Is there a due date for my response?

How long you take to respond to the review feedback is up to you, although that will affect how long the whole review process takes. There is no due date for responses.

Please note that we are closed over the Christmas period and will not be able to review responses during that time. Check out IMPORTANT DATES for more detail.

Do I have to wait until the monthly meeting for my response to be reviewed?

No. Responses are reviewed by the Chair, and sometimes a subcommittee, whenever they arrive. We currently aim to review responses within a week. However, the Chair and all committee members are volunteers with employment obligations, so sometimes it may take a day or two longer.

Please note that we are closed over the Christmas period and will not be able to review responses during that time. Check out IMPORTANT DATES for more detail.

I’m not sure what the review feedback means – can I talk to someone?

Yes. If you have questions about the committee’s review feedback, the Coordinator and/or Chair would be happy to talk to you about the committee’s feedback.

You can contact them via at admin@aotearoaresearchethics.org

I’ve already started my data collection – can I get an ethical review?

No. We cannot review research retrospectively. That is, we cannot review an application if you have already started, or completed, collecting data from participants. We also cannot review an application if you plan to start collecting data before the review process is complete.

If you have not yet started collecting data, and you are on a tight timeframe, you might want to consider an EXPEDITED REVIEW.

I am writing an article on my research and the journal editor wants to see ethics, but I didn’t get a review – can you help?

No. We cannot review research retrospectively.

I’m not based in New Zealand, but some of my participants will be – can you review my project?

Yes, but AREC can only review for the New Zealand context. That is, our review will only apply to the portion of the research conducted in New Zealand.

Is AREC an accredited ethics committee?

No. We are an independent ethics committee.

In Aotearoa, the Health Research Committee (HRC) approves Health and Disability Ethics Committees (HDECs) and the 13 Institutional Ethics Committees (IECs) at tertiary institutions. AREC is not affiliated with a tertiary institution and is not accredited as an Institutional Ethics Committee.

We provide independent ethics review for non-health, non-tertiary research occurring in New Zealand and are guided by two Codes of Ethics.