Type one diabetes patients are welcoming potentially one of the biggest breakthroughs in treatment of the disease since the development of insulin.
The government has okayed clinical trials for pig cells to be transplanted into humans in a world first clinical trial at Middlemore hospital in Auckland.
The minister of health, David Cunliffe said he was mindful of the potential of the technology, but noted that the "production will be done under a very rigorous set of conditions that will meet international best practice standards."
The controversial technology has been worked on for 20 years by Living Cell Technologies in Auckland, and Professor Bob Elliot has been at the centre.
He spoke to Sunrise.