Media releases

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...

Caring Kiwis opposed to the live export trade will be protesting the arrival of livestock carrier Yangtze Fortune at Auckland Port today. Animal rights organisation SAFE is protesting to demonstrate opposition to the Yangtze Fortune’s arrival while the live export trade is under review. Read more

With the help of animal rights group SAFE, Animal Evac New Zealand deployed a team of volunteers from Wellington to New South Wales this morning. This team will assist with both animals and communities, affected by the Australian bush fires. The specialist six-person disaster response team has experience in animal...

Animal rights organisation SAFE will be protesting at the Canterbury rodeo tomorrow, to stand up for the bullied and abused animals. The Canterbury rodeo is part of the annual rodeo season, which last season saw four animals killed at events across the country. Read more

SAFE – Animal Rights Charity Rodeo season has got off to a rocky start in New Zealand, with protest numbers swelling outside events around the country. Around three dozen protesters chanted outside the Wanaka rodeo in the South Island on Thursday – “there’s no excuse for animal abuse” – calling...

Animal rights organisation SAFE will be joining the Queenstown Vegan Society’s protest at the Wanaka Rodeo on January 2. The Wanaka Rodeo is part of the annual rodeo season, which last year saw four animals killed at events across the country. A horse was killed at last year’s Methven Rodeo,...