CTN satellite meeting highlights Māori research principles, ethics, and binational collaboration
CTN satellite meeting explored Māori research principles, ethics, and site sustainability, strengthening collaboration across Australia and New Zealand.
Sunday, 10 August 2025 – The ANZCA Clinical Trials Network (CTN) hosted a Trans-Tasman satellite meeting in Glenelg, SA, following its annual CTN workshop. The event brought together 30 investigators from New Zealand and Australia to discuss Māori research principles, ethics, and cross-country collaboration.
The program opened with a karakia and reflections from Dr Doug Campbell, Dr Matthew Moore, Dr Daniel Frei, and Dr Carolyn Deng (NZ), setting the stage for discussions on Māori research principles, ethical governance, and strategies to optimise New Zealand’s involvement in collaborative trials across the network. Speakers emphasised that all research in Aotearoa must recognise Te Tiriti o Waitangi and demonstrate genuine engagement with Māori communities to ensure cultural safety, equity, and scientific integrity.
Dr Frei provided practical advice on strengthening grant applications, highlighting the Health Research Council’s requirement that proposals show how research will advance Māori health. Dr Deng and Dr Moore expanded on the ethics and governance frameworks underpinning this process, before the session concluded with an open discussion.
The second session turned to site-level responsibilities and sustainability. Mr Jonathan Termaat and Ms Davina McAllister (NZ) highlighted the instrumental role of lead sites in ensuring ethical and cultural compliance, co-ordinating Health and Disability Research Committee submissions, managing locality approvals, and safeguarding Māori data sovereignty. Dr Campbell addressed the long-term sustainability of New Zealand research sites, while Dr Amy Gaskell explored opportunities for more efficient trial conduct and greater integration within the CTN portfolio.
The meeting reinforced the CTN’s role as a binational collaboration committed to culturally focussed, sustainable research that advances equity and improves patient care across Australia and New Zealand. We thank the ANZCA Foundation for supporting this meeting.
