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The minister responsible for animal welfare in New Zealand is such a bitter disappointment. The Minister of Agriculture, Jim Anderton, is empowered to protect animals in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 1999. Instead, he seems to place higher priority on lucrative agriculture opportunities (farming more animals) than adequately funding crucial animal welfare initiatives.

A recent article published in The New Zealand Farmers Weekly reveals that MAF’s on-the-ground animal welfare response team is cash strapped and struggling to do its job. It is failing to properly manage animal welfare complaints being reported to it from throughout the country. Cases of animals being starved, neglected, abused or left without adequate shelter are not being properly managed and certainly are not being prosecuted.

According to official 2007 statistics, there were 4.4 million cattle; 5.2m dairy cows; 1.4m deer; 38.5m sheep; 355,000 pigs and 73,000 goats and horses kept on farms across the country. Add a further 90 million chickens farmed indoors. MAF officers have similar powers to the New Zealand Police. They have the authority to investigate, seize property, order immediate veterinary supervision and prosecute. The problem is they are woefully under resourced. With a staggering 140 million farmed animals how many MAF officers would be adequate? 100? 200? 500? How about a paltry five, would you believe!

MAF Enforcement’s annual budget is a meagre $860,000. The Minister of Agriculture lamely sympathised and apologised that there were no more funds available. However, just last month the Minister proudly announced a $700 million grant to effectively finance agriculture ventures and a further $23 million for a farm identification scheme. It has the agriculture sector gloating while over-worked animal welfare officers remain buried in cases of abuse. It is reprehensible and we must act. Please write to the Minister demanding that he immediately allocate sufficient funds towards animal welfare starting with the immediate employment of more animal welfare enforcement officers.

Anthony Terry
Director

Write to:
Hon Jim Anderton
Minister of Agriculture, Parliament Buildings, Wellington (Free Post)
Email: jim.anderton@parliament.govt.nz
Phone: 04 471 9011 or
Fax: 04 495 8441

Click here to read The New Zealand Farmers Weekly story.


























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CIRCUS HEADS TO AUCKLAND
SAFE is gearing up to ’welcome’ the Loritz Circus to Auckland as it sets down in Mangere and Manurewa from the 6th to the 24th of August. The circus has New Zealand’s last circus elephant, Jumbo. SAFE seeks helpers to join in with demonstrations and to assist with the distribution of posters and with letter writing. More ...

JOIN THE CIRCUS PROTEST
SAFE is inviting members, volunteers and members of the public to join in on two demonstrations to be held on the first weekend. If you are able to attend at least one of these events that would be great. Meet at either 12.45pm or 5.45pm on Saturday, 9 August at David Lange Park, Bader Drive in Mangere.

ONLINE SHOP LAUNCHED
Living cruelty free just got a whole lot easier! With the rising cost of fuel it’s just not that convenient to take a trip to SAFE’s Cruelty Free Shop in Auckland. Even harder if you live elsewhere! SAFE is pleased to announce a brand new online ChooseCrueltyFree store.

“We’ve got everything from food and sweets, to clothing and shoes, personal care and cleaning products, to books and gifts,” says shop manager Caro Warburton. “Get shopping today and not only have these wonderful cruelty free items delivered to your door at the click of a button, but feel great knowing that all proceeds go to SAFE.”

SAFE would like to extend tremendous thanks to the production team - Graham, Rochelle, Deirdre, Caro and Amanda, with a very special thanks to Mark Smith the webmaster.

DEATH SHIPS TO RESUME?
News that the New Zealand Government is being pressured to allow live sheep shipments to resume has sparked outrage and has resulted in SAFE gearing up for an international campaign. The Saudi Minister of Agriculture recently visited New Zealand to inspect sheep farms in the Hawke’s Bay region and to have talks with New Zealand Minister of Agriculture Jim Anderton. More ...

PUBLIC DEBATE - PALMERSTON NORTH
Is the use of animals in research justified?
Many of us eat them, wear clothes made from them and keep them as companions. But should we expect animals to put up with the pain and discomfort of scientific experimentation? More ...

WALK FOR THE ANIMALS
Join in a short family walk in central Palmerston North to protect companion animals from experimentation in New Zealand. Listen to animal welfare and scientific experts speak on animal research in New Zealand and learn how you can help save companion animals from experimentation. From 1pm, on Saturday, 23 August at the Clock Tower in the Square. More ...

SAFE MEETING - CHRISTCHURCH
SAFE volunteer Andrew Phillips will share his experiences in Antarctica as an explorer, philosopher and vegetarian environmentalist. From 7pm on Thursday, 7 August at SAFE, Level 1, 145 Armagh Street. More ...

ETHICS AND GOOD TASTE IN ACTION
Ethics and good taste were in alignment in Auckland’s SAFE office last week. Three successful women shared tips on how to run a vegan business and spoke of their personal experiences and the reasons they considered doing such a crazy thing. More ...

  

5 AUGUST 2008 #53



Here at SAFE we love to spoil our compassionate readers! Enter the draw below and you could win a beautiful aromatherapy package from JOI Pure worth $50. One lucky reader will receive a ’Relaxation’ essential oil blend - a deeply calming and harmonising blend that relieves stress, tension and anxiety and aids sleep - along with a Nourishing Massage Oil made from a luxurious, unscented massage oil base blended from freshly cold-pressed, organic plant oils to which JOI pure essential oils can be added.

JOI Pure aromatherapy products are created in purpose-built premises set amongst natural bushland in the picturesque locale of Brigadoon in the hills of the Swan Valley, Western Australia. JOI Pure are accredited by Choose Cruelty Free Australia.

Congratulations to Kelly Adams and Nicola Carves who have each won a Vegan Wares wallet.

JAMIE OLIVER EXPOSES CRUELTY
CELEBRITY chef Jamie Oliver kills one-day-old baby chicks in front of a live studio audience. In the opening sequence of Jamie’s Fowl Dinners - which airs in New Zealand later this month - Oliver asks guests to separate male chicks from female chicks. He puts the males in a container and suffocates them.

This week SAFE launched a campaign to urge New Zealanders to watch the insightful 90-minute programme. More ...

AVID EDITOR REQUIRED
Do you have the ability to convert footage on Hi8 tape to Mini DV? SAFE has animal abuse footage on Hi8 that we would like to make use of, but it needs converting first. Email sacha@safe.org.nz

BUDDING ANIMAL ADVOCATES
In the midst of the storm that lashed Canterbury last week a small but determined group of budding animal advocates attended a presentation on ’Effective Animal Advocacy.’ More ...