Every year in Aotearoa, hundreds of thousands of birds are shot or left injured on the very wetlands they call home, during the so-called game bird shooting season. Despite being marketed as a family-friendly, recreational activity, this sport is anything but – causing unimaginable harm and suffering.   More than 650,000...

An updated Code of Welfare for Sheep and Beef Cattle is now open for consultation, and it’s a disaster for animals. Rather than lifting standards or upholding the Animal Welfare Act 1999, the code would lock in cruelty and continue to allow harmful practices that cause serious and avoidable suffering.  ...

As we wrap up another busy quarter, we want to take a moment to reflect on all that we’ve achieved together in our fight for animals – and what lies ahead in 2025. From calling for a total ban on cruel practices like mud farming and rodeo, to challenging misleading...

A Message from Debra Ashton, CEO of SAFE As this year draws to a close, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to you for supporting SAFE throughout the past 12 months. This year has been filled with challenges, but together, we’ve made significant strides in advocating for the protection...

Our work to Protect the Ban on Live Export We are thrilled to announce that we have successfully achieved and surpassed SAFE’s Operation Protect the Ban fundraising goal! The importance of this campaign cannot be understated. Thanks to people like you, we have a fighting chance to counter Livestock Export...

On 23 April 2024, the Government announced that it planned to repeal national intensive winter grazing regulations through amendments to the Resource Management Act 1991.  SAFE has previously highlighted the devastating effects intensive winter grazing (also known as mud farming) can have on animal welfare. If this legislation is enacted,...

The spread of bird flu, which has led to the killing of tens of millions of farmed birds globally, prompts us to examine the role of intensive animal farming in zoonotic disease outbreaks, and rethink our entire relationship with animals.  What is bird flu?  Bird flu is a contagious disease...

In the ‘big story’ of combating climate change, there’s a chapter that often goes unnoticed: animal agriculture. Unfortunately, without examining that chapter, the story doesn’t make sense.  Here in New Zealand, where agriculture is a cornerstone of our economy, the connection between animal agriculture and greenhouse gas emissions is undeniable.  ...

By now, you may have come across the headlines about the government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, which has been gaining attention recently. You may even have heard some of the many concerns raised by environmentalists, animal welfare organisations, indigenous leaders and advocates across the spectrum.  But how did we get here?...

As a country known for its commitment to animal welfare and ethical standards, New Zealand has long prided itself on leading by example. One of the most significant steps we’ve taken in this regard is the ban on live export—a crucial measure that upholds our values and protects the well-being...

A year has now passed since a leaked draft Code of Welfare for Rodeo hit New Zealand headlines, proposing significant changes to the treatment of animals in rodeo events. Despite the urgency of the matter, the draft code is still in limbo, with the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC)...

In 2021, the Government announced it would phase out the export of cattle, sheep, deer and goats. On 30 April 2023, live export by sea was officially prohibited in New Zealand. Decades of evidence has indicated that animals suffer in the live export trade. In their review of the live...

SAFE is urgently renewing calls for a Commissioner for Animals, following MPI’s lacklustre response to images of thin to emaciated cows, taken on two separate farms in recent weeks. SAFE received images via its 0800 EXPOSE programme, which showed thin cattle on a farm near Palmerston. The images were passed...

Top greyhound trainer John McInerney has escaped charges on a technicality following the Racing Integrity Board’s (RIB) investigation into 11 greyhounds taken to a Christchurch rehoming facility earlier this year. The RIB found that one dog had an injury that should have been diagnosed earlier, and subsequently needed two partial...