SAFE calls for removal of Andrew Hoggard from animal welfare role

Before the 2023 general election, Andrew Hoggard was the head of farming lobby group Federated Farmers. Yet he now serves as the minister responsible for animal welfare – despite being deeply entangled with the very industries that profit from animal exploitation. 

We’re calling on the Prime Minister to reassign the animal welfare portfolio. Here’s why:  

A minister with not-so-hidden agenda

Andrew Hoggard is a dairy farmer, not an animal welfare expert. Before entering parliament, he led Federated Farmers, was on the board of the International Dairy Board, and spent years advocating for animal agriculture industries. His stated goal when he entered parliament in November 2023 was to ‘make farmers’ lives easier’.  

And now he has ministerial oversight of the welfare of all animals. Hoggard’s decisions affect hundreds of millions of animals across country, and his track record shows a clear bias toward industry, not the welfare of animals. 

When industry writes the rules

Under Andrew Hoggard’s watch we’ve seen shocking examples of industry influence shaping animal welfare policy:

Live export: ban reversed

Despite widespread public opposition and serious welfare concerns, Andrew Hoggard announced he would reverse the ban on live animal exports by sea. He met with industry lobbyists pushing for the reversal of this ban, ignored the recommendations of animal welfare experts, and his promises of a public consultation were broken. Hoggard’s decision to reverse the ban has drawn intense criticism, particularly regarding conflicts of interest, industry lobbying, and a lack of transparent consultation. His background as a farmer and former Federated Farmers president raises concerns about impartiality, suggesting close ties to the animal agricultural sector may be unduly influencing these policy decisions.  

Rodeo: animal welfare compromised

Rodeo events are under scrutiny for their inherent cruelty. Vets, experts in animal welfare law, and the SPCA have all raised red flags. But Andrew Hoggard supports rodeo, and in his role as the minister responsible for animal welfare he opened the national finals this year, stating; “This isn’t my first rodeo and I don’t intend it to be my last”. Hoggard’s open support for this brutal form entertainment in which animals are routinely tormented and abused suggests he would ignore expert advice and animal welfare legislation in favour of rodeo industry interests – for example the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) is about to release the revised Rodeo Code of Welfare, but Hoggard’s public support for rodeo raises concerns about whether his decision on that revised code will be impartial.  

Farrowing crates: court ruling ignored

Confining mother pigs in farrowing crates violates the Animal Welfare Act, and in 2020 the High Court ruled against the use of cruel crates, ordering that they be phased out of use by the end of 2025. But in October this year – a mere two months before the end of the phase-out period – Andrew Hoggard introduced a Bill to allow farrowing crates to remain indefinitely. This happened without consulting animal welfare experts or key stakeholders such as the SPCA – instead Hoggard worked closely with NZ Pork, even hiring their former policy manager as his ministerial adviser. This extremely controversial move undermined the rule of law and eroded public trust in animal welfare governance.  

Why all this matters

Our Animal Welfare Act is designed to protect animals from harm. But when the minister responsible for animal welfare is more focused on industry profits and making life easier for farmers than the welfare of animals, that legislation loses its power. 

But this isn’t just about politics – it’s about ethics, transparency, and trust. We will not stand for a politician with vested interests undermining the law and ignoring the welfare of hundreds of millions of sentient beings.  

What needs to happen

SAFE is urging Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to reassign the animal welfare portfolio to a minister with the expertise, independence, and integrity to do the job properly. Kiwis deserve a government that puts animal welfare first, not behind the industries that profit from their exploitation.  

What you can do to help

We have sent our formal complaint directly to the Prime Minister, and also to the leaders of the NZ First and ACT parties.

If you would like to support this complaint you can also write to these ministers. We’ve provided some guidelines and tips below:

Tips for writing your email: 

• Be clear and polite, and make your email focused and concise.
• Let the Prime Minister and party leaders know why this issue is important to you.
• Include information relevant to animal-related issues in your town/region.
• Request a response on an action plan to have the animal welfare portfolio reassigned.

Suggested talking points:

I am writing to express my serious concerns about the conflicts of interest and the risk of industry influence while Andrew Hoggard remains responsible for the animal welfare portfolio.

I urge the Prime Minister to urgently reassign the ministerial animal welfare portfolio due to significant concerns associated with its current oversight.

As a lifelong dairy farmer and former President of Federated Farmers, Andrew Hoggard has significant conflicts of interest that compromise his ability to impartially oversee animal welfare. 

The animal welfare portfolio should be reassigned to an impartial MP with the relevant expertise who will uphold the Animal Welfare Act and act in the best interests of animals.

Examples of industry influence compromising animal welfare under Andrew Hoggard’s supervision include reversing the ban on live export, his open support for cruelty in rodeos, and ignoring the High Court on Farrowing Crates. 

The Cabinet Manual 2023 requires ministers to avoid conflicts of interest. Andrew Hoggard’s actions breach these standards and undermine public trust in the government’s obligation to enforce the Animal Welfare Act. 

To send your email:

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon 

email address: [email protected]

Winston Peters, NZ First leader

email address: [email protected] 

David Seymour, ACT leader

email address: [email protected]