The first international animal welfare centre, set up by Massey University two years ago, is to be expanded.
The new collaborative centre will include four more research organisations in New Zealand and Australia.
It will be called the OIE Collaborating Centre for Animal Welfare Science and Bioethical Analysis.
The OIE is the world organisation for animal health.
Professor Kevin Stafford, the co-director of Massey University's Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, says the group will now be the main source of advice to the OIE.
He says the centre's work will follow the interest of the OIE's member states.
Professor Stafford says issues of interest include the transport and slaughter of animals.
