Research Office

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The role of our Research Office

Locality Authorisation

Meet our Team

The role of our Research Office

Our research office supports people undertaking research at Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand, Te Tai Tokerau.

Our role is to facilitate research review and authorisation so that people conduct their research according to national standards and guidelines. 

Contact our Research Team

For general enquiries feel free to email us

Locality Authorisation

Our staff administer the local authorisation of research to be conducted with our services.

Standards, Guidelines and Processes

We provide guidance to researchers and develop policies and processes based on the National Ethical Standards for Health and Disability Research and Quality Improvement .

Health and Disability Ethics Committee Review

The team can help provide guidance on the ethical review requirements for health research projects but does not grant ethical approval.

Related Information/Resources

National Ethical Standards for Health and Disability Research and Quality Improvement.

neac.health.govt.nz  

Te Ara Tika Guidelines for Māori Research Ethics

https://www.hrc.govt.nz/resources/te-ara-tika-guidelines-maori-research-ethics-0 

Locality Authorisation 

The terms "locality approval" or "locality authorisation" refer to the process used by the NZ Health and Disability Ethics Committees (HDECs) to ascertain that all local governance issues have been addressed at sites participating in a research project.

All health research to be undertaken at Te Whatu Ora - Te Tai Tokerau must have locality approval before the research is started. Applications should be submitted by the local study representative from our locality. Before submitting a Locality Approval application, researchers should consider undertaking:  

-  Local Consultation

Consult with the local Head of Department and Service Leaders to confirm that they support the proposed research being conducted within the relevant services and that they approve of the resource use and proposed budgets. 

-  Māori Consultation

In the first instance, the HDEC publication Te Ara Tika provides excellent guidelines for approaching and planning research methodology. In addition local consultation is always advisable prior to submitting a Locality Approval application.

-  Ethics Review

The level of ethics review depends on the type of project to be undertaken. There are a few options for ethics review including HDEC or through an academic institution. The HRCs website provides a good overview of ethics requirements in New Zealand.

How to apply for Locality Authorisation

To obtain Te Tai Tokerau Locality Approval, researchers should do the following:

1. Download and complete the Locality Approval Form available here. Paper forms can be obtained for external researchers without a local study contact. Please email the research office.
   
   
2. Attach your completed Locality Approval Form, together with the following:
   
   (i)   Full research methodology/protocol
   (ii)  Evidence of ethics approval or exemption (or intention to apply)
   (iii) Patient information/Consent Forms (as relevant)
   (iv) Information relating to local contact and support; including letters of endorsement (as relevant)
   
   
3. Send the above documents in one email to research@northlanddhb.org.nz. Locality Approval applications will be reviewed by the Te Tai Tokerau Research Review Group. Additional information or clarification may be requested, if needed. Once approved, you will be notified by email. Please allow 2-3 weeks for approvals to be processed.

Please be aware that research across Te Whatu Ora (national) is undergoing substantial review. We suggest that researchers check back to this webpage regularly where any updates or changes to process will be posted.