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‘Wellington High Court finds farrowing crate minimum standards unlawful’

November 13th, 2020
In a Judgement released today, the High Court has ruled the Minister of Agriculture and the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) have acted illegally when they failed to phase out the farming practice farrowing crates for mother pigs. The ruling relied on NAWAC’s own internal view that farrowing crates...

Animals will be at risk of injury or death at Waipukurau bull ride this weekend – SAFE

November 10th, 2020
The annual rodeo season continues his weekend with the Waipukurau bull ride on Saturday. Like last year, animals will be at risk of injury or death. Two animals died last rodeo season, both at the ‘Mad Bull’ rodeo in Otago. SAFE spokesperson Will Appelbe said the treatment of animals at...

Greyhound racing industry kills three dogs in three weeks

November 10th, 2020
On 22 October, Opawa Lola was killed at Cambridge Raceway in the Waikato. This was followed by Star of Pakistan and Sozin’s Assasin on 2 November, both of whom were killed at Addington Raceway in Christchurch. All three dogs suffered from a fractured radius and ulna and were euthanised as...

Damning new article about NZ rodeo cruelty hits UK media – SAFE NZ

November 9th, 2020
New footage from this year’s Winchester and Methven rodeos was published by the Independent yesterday. The footage shows bulls strapped with irritating flank straps bucking wildly, and calves lassoed by so-called ‘cowboys’ on horseback, then thrown to the ground, before being tied by their legs. Read more

Live export protest at Napier Port tomorrow 1pm – SAFE

November 6th, 2020
Animal rights organisation SAFE will be protesting the arrival of live export ship Yangtze Fortune on Saturday 7 November at 1pm, which is scheduled to ship a consignment of cows to China. The Yangtze Fortune has a sketchy history. In 2018, 33 cattle died following a shipment from Australia to...

Timaru locals to protest the arrival of a live export ship today – SAFE

November 4th, 2020
The world’s largest livestock vessel, the Ocean Drover, is scheduled to collect 7,945 cows from PrimePort in Timaru today. This is the first ship to arrive in New Zealand to export some of the 24,000 cows that have been in quarantine since the sinking of Gulf Livestock 1 in September....

Petition to end live animal exports at Port Taranaki to be presented today – SAFE

November 3rd, 2020
Animal rights organisation SAFE and Taranaki Animal Rights Group will be handing over a petition to the Taranaki Regional Council (TRC) today, asking the council to direct its port to stop exporting live animals. The petition was signed by over 11,700 people. Read more

‘SAFE pleased to see the role of Minister responsible for animal welfare returned’

November 2nd, 2020
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today announced her Ministerial list, which saw Meka Whaitiri reinstated as Associate Minister of Agriculture with responsibility for Animal Welfare. She will be a Minister outside of cabinet. SAFE CEO Debra Ashton said she’s pleased that the Labour Government are putting a focus back on animal...

New analysis of live export ships shows there is still a high risk to animals – SAFE

October 29th, 2020
New analysis from The Guardian has found that live export ships are twice as likely to be lost at sea as cargo vessels. SAFE Campaigns Manager Bianka Atlas said the growing evidence supports what SAFE has been saying for years. “It is clear that the live export trade places the...

Retired MP Gareth Hughes joins SAFE’s Board of Directors

October 29th, 2020
Gareth Hughes was previously the Green Party’s animal welfare spokesperson and was a leading voice for animals within Parliament. During his time in politics he championed the 2014 ban on shark finning and accepted numerous petitions from animal advocacy groups. Read more

Live export report is tinkering around the edges – SAFE NZ

October 23rd, 2020
The Ministry for Primary Industries has today released new requirements for the export of live animals by sea, following recommendations from a review into the animal welfare assurances MPI receives from exporters. The review was led by Mike Heron QC. Read more
Animals will be at risk of injury or death during rodeo opening weekend

Animals will be at risk of injury or death during rodeo opening weekend

October 22nd, 2020
The annual rodeo season opens this weekend with the Winchester Rodeo on Saturday, and the Methven Rodeo on Sunday. Like last year, animals will be at risk of injury or death. Two animals died last rodeo season, both at the ‘Mad Bull’ rodeo in Otago. SAFE spokesperson Will Appelbe said...

COVID-19 outbreak on a live export ship – SAFE NZ

October 20th, 2020
While New Zealand is gearing up to lift a temporary ban on live exports, 25 crew have tested positive for COVID-19 on the livestock carrier Al Messilah, which is docked at Fremantle Port in Western Australia. The ship, which was due to be loading animals for export, has been delayed...

Jacinda Ardern has a mandate to end the caging of hens – SAFE

October 18th, 2020
Animal rights organisation SAFE has big expectations around colony cages for the next Labour government. SAFE CEO Debra Ashton said with a majority of the seats in Parliament, Labour can make quick progress on animal welfare. “Labour can really get things done now, like fulfilling some broken promises on animal...
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