April:

World Day for Laboratory Animals, 24 April 1997

NZAVS presented a street theatre performance in City Mall, Christchurch.

The street theatre was in a game show format, with contestants being members of different species - a rat, a rabbit, and a human. The object of the game was to survive the most rounds as different drugs - including penicillin, fenoterol, and eraldin - were given to each contestant. Due to different reactions between species the drugs may have varied effects in the contestants. This illustrated the lottery that is vivisection.

Watched by many members of the public, highlights of the event were screened on that night's television news by CTV.

In the evening a benefit gig was held, which covered all the costs of the action. Performers were Pistol Grip, Piggy and Here Comes Jack Thompson.

June:

Cancer Research Winter Ball.

NZAVS made a noisy protest at this annual event. The theme of the ball was, ironically, Victoriana. Queen Victoria being an opponent of vivisection. This protest was covered in The Press and by network television news.

"Noise and irony" were doled out by about 30 anti-vivisectionists to revellers attending Saturday's Cancer Society fundraising ball, a protest organiser said yesterday. Edward Wilson said the group "made some noise" outside the Convention Centre for an hour before being moved to the other side of Kilmore Street by the police.

He said it was ironic both that the theme of the ball was Victoriana - when Queen Victoria was reputedly a vehement opponent of vivisection - and that some of the people who were going to the fundraiser were smoking. One flicked a cigarette at the protesters, Mr Wilson added. Cancer Society promotions manager Frank Morgan said the protest did not interfere with the ball, which raised about $20,000 for cancer research.
- The Press, Monday 9 June 1997.

August:

Daffodil Day

NZAVS members disrupted a Cancer Society fundraising auction by creating so much noise that it was impossible for them to commence on time (according to Radio Pacific). The demonstration was also noted by The Press.

On Daffodil Day a victory of sorts was claimed by NZAVS as the Cancer Society shop in Christchurch, hitherto stockists of Animal Research Saves Lives, had removed the offending and inaccurate leaflet from its display prior to a protest by NZAVS.

Radio Pacific interviewed Phil Clayton that evening, live to air, with the host becoming abusive.

Acknowledgements to Anita Spencer for assistance on a stall the following day.

September:

ANZCCART/National Animal Ethics Advisory Joint Conference

At the end of an NZAVS demonstration in Auckland vivisectors were chased back to their hotel by an angry mob of anti-vivisectionists.

Earlier that day Hidden Crimes was screened to an attentive audience.

Acknowledgements to Margaret Jones for stalls in the northern North Island and continued distribution of Animal Research Takes Lives - Humans and Animals Both Suffer and to Cas Simonsen for library displays.