Media releases

The demand for plant-based protein is growing internationally, and the Government should seize the opportunity to include this in their economic stimulus package, says animal rights organisation SAFE. KPMG global head of agribusiness Ian Proudfoot yesterday told the Epidemic Response Committee that COVID-19 would accelerate a move towards lab-based meats...

SAFE is calling out Taranaki Regional Council (TRC) chief executive Basil Chamberlain for saying animal activists got it wrong. The chief executive claimed that Port Taranaki, which in January began facilitating the export of live animals, has an independent board of directors. Read more

The live animal export ship Yangtze Harmony arrived in Port Taranaki yesterday to collect 4,450 cows, expected to depart tomorrow. This is the third live export ship to berth in New Plymouth this year. SAFE and other local groups want to see the practice of live export come to an...

Farrowing crates, which confine mother pigs kept on factory farms, violate the Animal Welfare Act 1999, and for the first time in New Zealand history the Act will be tested in court. SAFE and the New Zealand Animal Law Association (NZALA) filed court proceedings against the Agriculture Minister and the...

The pig meat industry is struggling to store its meat while independent butchers are closed during the COVID-19 lockdown. “The Government needs to stop the insemination of sows if the industry is struggling to house pigs,” says Campaigns Manager Marianne Macdonald. Read more

World Animal Protection has downgraded New Zealand’s animal protection ranking in a recently released report. The Animal Protection Index ranks 50 countries around the world according to their animal welfare policies and legislation. The index awarded New Zealand’s animal protection efforts an ‘A’ in 2014, however World Animal Protection has...

A wholefood, plant-based diet is healthy for individuals at all stages of life, according to nutrition experts worldwide. Plant-based and vegan diets have been criticised in recent weeks by New Zealand nutritionists who have stated they wouldn’t recommend the diet to young people. Read more

Two animal rights organisations are demanding the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) cancel a Dunedin rodeo following the deaths of two animals. SAFE and Direct Animal Action are calling for MPI to conduct an audit of the ‘Mad Bull’ rodeo club following the deaths of two bulls, one at each...

Footage captured by activists at the Urenui rodeo on Saturday shows a breach of the rodeo code of welfare. The footage which was passed onto SAFE yesterday shows a steer wrestling event that exceeds the rodeo code of welfare’s 30 second time limit. Steer wrestling is an event where a...

New poll figures reveal that more than half of New Zealanders who had attended a rodeo event supported a ban on rodeo. A recent Horizon Research poll commissioned by animal rights organisation SAFE shows that 60% of those polled who had attended a rodeo in the previous 12 months supported...

RNZ Checkpoint last week reported that the rodeo industry has killed two animals during the current rodeo season. Information recently obtained by animal rights organisation SAFE reveals two bulls were killed at ‘Mad Bull’ rodeo events in November and December. Read more

Full photo album from SAFE’s live export protest at Port Taranaki today can be found here. The protest was organised to demonstrate opposition to the arrival of livestock carrier Yangtze Fortune while the live export trade is under review. The ship is expected to leave Port Taranaki at midnight tonight....

The live export ship Yangtze Fortune is now on its way to New Plymouth to collect 3,800 cows for export, and animal rights organisation SAFE will protest its arrival. The protest will demonstrate opposition to the Yangtze Fortune’s arrival in New Plymouth while the live export trade is under review....

Full photo album from SAFE’s live export protest at Auckland Port yesterday can be found here. The protest was organised to demonstrate opposition to the arrival of livestock carrier Yangtze Fortune while the live export trade is under review. The ship is expected to travel to New Plymouth to collect...