Entrant: The Independent Human Research Ethics Collective
City: Auckland
Website: https://www.ihrec.co.nz
About My Business
Researchers across New Zealand undertake studies involving people, their information and human tissue to answer the hard questions. Whether the research is commissioned by government, conducted by charities, led by iwi, undertaken by private organisations or carried out by independent researchers, we believe there is one question that should always be asked: "Is this research being conducted ethically?" The Independent Human Research Ethics Collective (IHREC) was established to help answer that question. We are New Zealand's first independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to strengthening the ethical governance of human research outside traditional university and hospital systems. Our role is to provide independent ethics review, helping researchers design studies that protect participants, respect communities and build public trust. However, ethics review is only part of what we do. We believe that good research depends on strong governance, accessible education and a culture of continuous improvement. Alongside our ethics review services, we invest in developing national capability through workshops, training programmes and practical guidance that help researchers and organisations navigate ethical challenges with confidence. As a not-for-profit organisation, every dollar we earn is reinvested into strengthening New Zealand's research ethics ecosystem. This includes fairly remunerating our independent expert reviewers for their time and expertise, expanding access to ethics review through pro bono and reduced-fee pathways for unfunded community-led research, and developing the digital infrastructure and quality systems needed to support ethical research into the future. Recognising that ethical review should reflect the communities it serves, we have also established a dedicated By Māori, for Māori ethics pathway, supported by an independent Māori Komiti, to provide culturally grounded ethics review for Māori-led research. While our organisation is still young, our vision is ambitious: to become New Zealand's leading independent ethics collective, building trust and strengthening research through high-quality governance, education and innovation. At its heart, IHREC exists for one reason: to ensure that research not only advances knowledge, but does so in a way that protects people, respects communities and earns the confidence of the public.
Why We Should Win The Peoples Choice Award
Every day, researchers across New Zealand are working to answer important questions that shape our communities. They are improving healthcare, strengthening education, informing public policy and helping solve complex social challenges. But none of that research happens without people. It relies on individuals and communities who are willing to share their stories, their experiences and, sometimes, their most personal information. They deserve to know that their rights, dignity and wellbeing are protected. That is why IHREC exists. Research ethics is simply about making sure research involving people is conducted responsibly. Independent ethics review helps protect participants, respects communities and ensures research is designed in a way that is fair, transparent and trustworthy. We may not always be visible, but our work sits quietly behind better research. Every ethics review helps ensure that research is conducted respectfully, transparently and with the people involved at its centre. As a small, independent not-for-profit, we've built something we believe New Zealand needs: an organisation dedicated to strengthening ethical research while making expert review more accessible, more collaborative and more responsive. Every dollar we earn is reinvested into improving research governance, supporting our reviewers, expanding education and helping community organisations access ethical review. We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved in a short time, but we're even more excited about what comes next. We're building new digital tools, expanding education opportunities, supporting Māori-led research through our dedicated By Māori, for Māori pathway, and working towards a future where ethical research is accessible to everyone who needs it. If you believe good research deserves good governance, if you believe communities should be respected as partners in research, and if you believe small organisations can make a meaningful difference, we'd be honoured to have your support. Your vote isn't just recognition of IHREC. It's recognition that ethical research matters, that public trust matters, and that protecting people should always be at the heart of research.
