Media releases

The review of the controversial live export trade is now open for submissions from the public. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor ordered the review following an ABC News exposé which revealed that New Zealand and Australian cows were sick and dying in Sri Lanka. Read more

NZAVS and SAFE, with support from LUSH Cosmetics Australasia, demonstrated the cruel Forced Swim Test outside LUSH Newmarket today. The action that took place outside the LUSH store in Newmarket, Auckland, involved a dunk tank, which volunteers from the LUSH team took turns swimming in to symbolise what animals go...

NZAVS and SAFE, with support from LUSH Cosmetics Australasia, will be demonstrating the cruel Forced Swim Test outside LUSH Newmarket tomorrow. The action taking place outside the LUSH store in Newmarket, Auckland, will involve a dunk tank, which volunteers from the LUSH team will take turns swimming in to symbolise...

Animals will be at risk of injury or death at the first of three “Mad Bull” rodeo events in Otokia this weekend. The annual rodeo season last year saw four animals killed at events across the country. A horse was killed at last year’s Methven Rodeo, along with a horse...

Animal rights organisation SAFE has been reliably informed that the Mid Northern Rodeo Club has cancelled its annual rodeo event in 2020 due to financial pressures. The Mid Northern Rodeo, which has taken place every year in Whangarei since the 1960s was cancelled due to alleged financial constraints. Read more

Fourteen thousand sheep are trapped inside a live export ship which capsized off the coast of Romania on Sunday night. Many of the sheep have likely drowned. Livestock carrier Queen Hind capsized on Sunday night after leaving the port of Midia. Early responders rescued all 22 crew members and at...

Animal rights organisation SAFE will be protesting at the annual Martinborough Bucking Bulls rodeo event in the Wairarapa tomorrow. The Martinborough Bucking Bulls is part of the annual rodeo season, which last year saw four animals killed at events across the country. Read more

A live export vessel has covertly berthed at Timaru Port, bringing this year’s shipments of live animals up to a total of eight. Livestock carrier Brahman Express berthed at Timaru Port on Thursday night. The ship came to the attention of animal rights organisation SAFE on this morning. Read more

A students’ association president and recently elected Wellington City Councillor has added her voice to the campaign against cruel animal experiments. Recently elected City Councillor Tamatha Paul, writing in her capacity as the President of the Victoria University of Wellington Students Association (VUWSA), has penned a letter to the Victoria...

Animals will continue to be at risk of injury or death at the Waipukarau bucking bulls this weekend. The annual rodeo season last year saw four animals killed at events across the country. A horse was killed at last year’s Methven Rodeo, along with a horse and a bull at...

Animal rights organisation SAFE is celebrating World Vegan Day by recognising three of New Zealand’s best vegan eateries. SAFE’s annual EAT Kind Awards recognise eateries nationwide who are going above and beyond to offer up the most delicious and innovative plant-based dishes. Read more

Animals will continue to be at risk of injury or death as this year’s rodeo season opens this weekend. The annual rodeo season last year saw four animals killed at events across the country. This season begins with the Winchester Rodeo on Saturday, and the Methven Rodeo on Sunday. Read...

Animal rights organisation SAFE will today hand over their petition to Green MP Gareth Hughes, calling for an end to live export cruelty. The petition seeks to ban the export of live animals to countries with lower animal welfare, transport and slaughter standards than New Zealand. Read more

A campaign to ban the Forced Swim Test in New Zealand is in line with public opinion, according to a new survey commissioned by the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society (NZAVS) and SAFE. The Forced Swim Test forces small animals such as rats or mice to swim in an inescapable beaker...