Arend Merrie's clinical interests are in colorectal cancer and its management, with a special interest in the genetics of colorectal cancer. He is an advisor to the Northern Regional Familial Bowel Cancer Registry. He has developed laparoscopic colorectal surgery in both Auckland and Mercy Hospitals and organised and convened the first National Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery course in New Zealand in 2005. In addition, he is accredited in endoanal ultrasound and has an interest in the management of pelvic floor disorders such as faecal incontinence.