Abstract
In recent years there has been a growing emphasis on respect for animal welfare and interest in incorporating Māori values into policy within New Zealand that relates to animal’s lives and treatment. This research aims to begin to contribute toward this process, which is still in its early stages, by exploring how Māori values relate to animal welfare and using this to provide advice for animal welfare policy. This research consists of a literature review across an array of databases and an ethical analysis of information from those derived results. This was integrated with qualitative research consisting of a series of interviews and a focus group discussion. The themes identified from this were used to develop a preliminary account of Māori animal welfare. Several significant aspects of animal welfare are proposed. Kaitiakitanga, the importance of a natural environment, mauri and spiritual connections to the land and animals were identified as important themes within animal welfare from a Māori perspective. These values were compared with Western philosophical accounts of welfare, and models of welfare from animal welfare science, to examine how well Western welfare is able to account for Māori animal welfare values. Suggestions for future animal welfare policy were then made, including possible revisions to the Animal Welfare Act and adjustments that may be made to two methods of assessing animal welfare.