Code of Ethics for Circus in Aotearoa

It is accepted that ethics are a fundamental part of being human, that an innate understanding of ill-action causing reprimand is emblazoned into the core of all human beings.

Plato’s conception of ethics states that happiness or well-being (eudaimonia) is the highest aim of moral thought and conduct, and the virtues (aretê: ‘excellence’) are the requisite skills and dispositions needed to attain it.
This code investigates applied ethics within circus arts specifically in the context of our Aotearoa sector at our current time. As you’ll be well aware, the amount of social change the world has rapidly gone through in a short space of time is unprecedented.

This is a wero, a challenge to all
of us that we must always be listening, reflecting and changing.
The guidelines in this document are intended to benefit the sector by helping it grow into an ethically and morally supportive environment which supports ALL of its members. This document has been developed with industry consultation and it’s guiding principles should be
used as a reference point for ethical matters in the circus community.