The New Zealand Branch of the Australasian Cochrane Centre is funded by a  grant from the New Zealand Ministry of Health.

Declaration of interest

In accordance with the policy of the Cochrane Collaboration the New Zealand Branch of the Australasian Cochrane Centre does not receive funding from commercial sources, defined as any for-profit manufacturer or provider of health care, or any other for-profit source with a real or potential vested interest in the findings of a specific review. The directors of the Branch are required to complete personal declaration of interest statements and to disclose all relationships with commercial organisations. The term 'related organisation' in the questions below means any organisation related to health care or medical research. The following directors have completed these declarations of interest: Cindy Farquhar and Mark Jeffery. Answers given correspond to the last five years.

1. Received research funding: any grant, contract or gift, commissioned research, or fellowship from a related organisation to conduct research?

Cindy Farquhar: Yes, from the New Zealand Ministry of Health; New Zealand Health Research Council; Mercia Barnes Trust of RANZCOG. , Lottery Health

2. Had paid consultancies: any paid work, consulting fees (in cash or kind) for a related organisation?

Cindy Farquhar: Yes, from the World Health Organization

3. Received honoraria: one-time payments (in cash or kind) from a related organisation?

Cindy Farquhar: Yes, from the BMJ (invited reviews) and Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (editorial work).

4. Served as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or held a position of management with a related organisation?

Cindy Farquhar: I was the Chair of the New Zealand Guidelines Group.

Mark Jeffery: Yes, I was a Director of the New Zealand Guidelines Group (1997-2005) and again from 2009 - 2012. I am a Director of the Executive of the Canterbury West Coast Division of the NZ Cancer Society (2001- ).

5. Possessed share-holdings, stock, stock options, equity with a related organisation (excludes mutual funds or similar arrangements where the individual has no control over the selection of the shares)?

Cindy Farquhar: Yes, I am a shareholder in IVF Auckland (private fertility clinic) and in Auckland City Surgical Services (private day-stay surgical company).

6. Received personal gifts from a related organisation?

No declarations.

7. Had an outstanding loan with a related organisation?

No declarations.

8. Received royalty payments from a related organisation?

No declarations.

9. Do you have any other competing interests that could pose a conflict of interest that would reasonably appear to be related to the primary interest?

No declarations.