The Ministry of Health has for the first time acknowledged the correlation between sustainable diets and the climate emergency. The Ministry’s new eating guidelines say there is an urgent need to promote diets that are healthy and have low environmental impacts. Read more

Eight greyhounds have been euthanised since December 18 after sustaining racing injuries. This includes five in Whanganui at what animal rights organisation SAFE is calling a ‘death track’. SAFE spokesperson Will Appelbe is calling on the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to immediately close the Whanganui track for an investigation....

The Canterbury rodeo is part of the annual rodeo season, which last season saw two animals killed at rodeo events. Both animals died at the Mad Bull rodeo in Otago. SAFE spokesperson Will Appelbe said rodeo events cause pain, fear and distress to animals. Read more

Live export ship Dareen is expected to arrive at Napier Port this week to export a consignment of cows. This is the eighth livestock vessel to arrive at the Port this year. The cows are being exported for breeding purposes but will eventually be slaughtered in their destination country. Read...

Live export ship Yangtze Harmony is expected to arrive at Port Taranaki this week to export a consignment of cows. This is the seventh livestock vessel to arrive at the Port this year. The cows are being exported for breeding purposes but will eventually be slaughtered in their destination country....

Last month the High Court found that the Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor, on the advice of the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), had acted unlawfully by not phasing out the use of farrowing crates and mating stalls. Now that the Government has accepted the Court’s decision, SAFE and...

This Saturday, so-called ‘cowboys’ will put animals at risk of injury or death at the ‘Mad Bull’ rodeo in Otago and the WFL Bull Ride Martinborough. Two bulls were killed at the Mad Bull rodeo last year, and another was killed at the Martinborough bull ride in 2018. Read more

Last year, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) embarked on a review of the live export industry, the outcome of which could be a ban on the trade. Despite this, MPI is currently advertising for a manager to look after live animal exports. The ministry says this is a team...

A group of lawyers has stepped up to ensure the rule of law prevails in two cases of animal cruelty that are both legal firsts in Aotearoa. New Zealand’s first rodeo prosecution The New Zealand Animal Law Association (NZALA) successfully took a private prosecution against Northland farmer Derek Robinson in...

The SPCA has joined calls for greyhound racing to be banned following the death of three dogs within three weeks. It comes as the Greyhound Protection League, alongside animal rights charity Save Animals From Exploitation (SAFE), has created a petition to ban the sport. Read more

A total of 199 greyhounds were euthanised in the last racing season, according to Greyhound Racing New Zealand. The organisation has released its 2020 Annual Report, which details the number of dogs euthanised either after being injured during races, or for undisclosed reasons. Read more

Nearly 200,000 chickens died at D B Chicks near Auckland’s Helensville on November 29, 2019. (File photo) An investigation into a mass chicken death incident remaining incomplete a year on is “inexcusable”, an animal welfare organisation says. About 190,000 chickens died at D B Chicks near Helensville, northwest of Auckland,...

Meet Vinnie.   Aside from the occasional zoomie, Vinnie spends his days hanging out with his human and doggie friends and snuggling anyone willing to lend him a lap. He’s really just a docile couch potato. Vinnie is a loved and valued member of his family. This cuddly and affectionate...

The annual rodeo season continues this weekend with the first of three ‘Mad Bull’ rodeos on Saturday. Like last year, animals will be at risk of injury or death. Two animals died last rodeo season, both at ‘Mad Bull’ events. SAFE spokesperson Will Appelbe said the treatment of animals at...