Media releases

SAFE has laid a formal complaint with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) citing breaches of the Animal Welfare Act, following New Zealand King Salmon’s repeated reporting of high summer mortality rates. The complaint has been followed up by SAFE calling for an industry-wide review into breaches of New Zealand’s...

Another greyhound has died on the racetrack, exposing once again the industry’s reckless disregard for animal welfare. Big Time Hinda collapsed at the lure and was pronounced deceased shortly thereafter at Cambridge raceway on Thursday 10 April. This marks the seventh greyhound death since Racing Minister Winston Peters announced a...

An Australian greyhound racing news outlet has reported 80 New Zealand greyhounds were sent to Australia this week despite the Racing Minister Winston Peters directive that dogs should not be exported overseas for racing purposes in the lead up to the 2026 ban. Read more

With this season’s death toll standing at five, animal rights advocates are gathering tomorrow at the national rodeo finals in Kihikihi, Waikato, calling for a ban on rodeo events. Coordinated by SAFE, Saturday’s peaceful protest will highlight the need for urgent Government action to bring an end to the abuse...

SAFE is reinforcing its call for a ban on rodeo following the death of a bull at the Waimarino rodeo on Saturday 15 March. At the same event, a steer suffered a significant injury resulting in the removal of one of his horns. SAFE Campaign Manager Emily Hall says the...

SAFE is calling for urgent government action to enforce the closure of greyhound racing following the deaths of two more greyhounds this week. On March 13 at Addington Raceway, Homebush Honey collapsed and died after a trial. SAFE has received footage showing a greyhound, who appears to be Homebush Honey,...

SAFE is deeply saddened by the death of greyhound Homebush Milo, who collapsed and died after winning a race at Addington Raceway on Friday, 7 March. The cause of death is yet to be determined. This marks the fourth greyhound death since Racing Minister Winston Peters announced a ban on...

SAFE is calling for rodeo riders to be excluded as contenders from all future rounds of the New Zealand Rural Sports Awards, saying the inclusion of rodeo legitimises animal cruelty. SAFE Campaign Manager Emily Hall says the organisation was shocked to learn 20-year-old bull rider Rylee Ward has been named...

SAFE is condemning the Government’s $11.72 million investment into salmon farming and demanding an urgent review into endemic animal welfare breaches. SAFE Campaign Manager Emily Hall says the funding allocated via the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is a concerning misdirection of Government resources. Read more

SAFE is once again urging the Government to ban rodeo following the deaths of four animals so far this summer – deaths that could have been prevented had the Government acted on long overdue animal welfare reforms. SAFE Campaign Manager Emily Hall says animals used in rodeo events endure extreme...

SAFE is calling for an independent inquiry after evidence of severe violence towards sheep was captured across 34 farms. Workers on New Zealand sheep farms were filmed beating, cutting, and throwing sheep to the ground, with one individual seen stomping on the neck of a sheep. Read more

Animal rights organisation SAFE is urging the Commerce Commission to enforce honest egg labelling after polling shows most Kiwis don’t realise ‘colony-laid’ eggs come from caged hens. Currently, all New Zealand cage egg brands omit the word ‘cage’ entirely from their packaging, using vague and confusing terms like ‘colony’ or...

Animal rights organisation SAFE is reinforcing its call for the immediate release of the revised rodeo code of welfare following the deaths of two animals over the new year period. The first fatality was of a horse used in the Taupō rodeo. The horse was exhibiting lameness following the event...

On the very same day the Government announced a historic decision to ban greyhound racing in New Zealand, a dog named Diamond Roman suffered a catastrophic injury and was killed following a race at Southland’s Ascot Park Raceway. Diamond Roman is the sixth greyhound to die this racing season, which...