Media releases

New Zealand King Salmon (NZKS) has reported a $24.5 million loss for its half-year earnings, of which it says a major contributor was a January mortality event. A 25% mortality rate for NZKS farms is considered standard for the company, and NZKS is forecasting a 38.8% mortality rate. Read more

The Animal Welfare Amendment Bill passed its third reading last night, which will give effect to a ban on live export. All exports of cattle, deer, goats, and sheep by sea will stop on 30 April 2023. SAFE Chief Executive Debra Ashton said it’s a relief that animals will soon...

Opposition MP’s out of touch on live export Source: SAFE For Animals — Fiery debate was heard in parliament during the third reading of the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill, which will give effect to a ban on live export. National MP Barbera Kuriger said the select committee process saw presentations...

Last month, SAFE launched a campaign shining a light on agriculture’s dirty secret; the production of foetal bovine serum (FBS), which involves killing cows during pregnancy and draining blood from unborn calves. Today, SAFE has published its open letter in the Dominion Post, calling for a ban on the commercial...

Information obtained through Official Information Act requests has revealed that as many as ten times more animals could be dying shortly after live export voyages compared with during the journey. SAFE CEO Debra Ashton said the information was shocking, given the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) only publishes data based...

A greyhound trainer has been disqualified for two years for failing to seek treatment for a greyhound. It’s another example that shows the racing industry is still failing to protect dogs. During an audit on 27 June 2022, Racing Integrity Board inspectors found Jetsun Singer suffering from pressure ulcers, which...

Animal rights charity SAFE has today launched 0800 EXPOSE, a supportive programme to provide witnesses of animal abuse a confidential means to report information. Witnesses can use a hotline or web form to share their concerns when they see animals abused on farms or in their community. Read more

Federated Farmers, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb NZ want intensive winter grazing regulations delayed yet again. Intensive winter grazing regulations were meant to come into effect in May 2021, but were initially delayed until May 2022, only to be further delayed to November 2022. SAFE CEO Debra Ashton said the...

Plan to replace the Manukau greyhound racetrack with an athletics facility a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” Source: SAFE For Animals — SAFE is lending its support to the Manukau Sports Bowl draft plan, which proposes an athletics track and field facility replacing the greyhound racetrack. Read more

SAFE intends to end the production of foetal bovine serum (FBS), which is the aim of the charity’s open letter which calls for a ban on the slaughter of pregnant cows in Aotearoa. Largely unfamiliar to the public, FBS is produced from blood harvested from unborn calves. Read more

SAFE has obtained evidence of about seven dead sheep in various stages of decomposition dumped among gorse bushes in a paddock near Templeton, Christchurch. Another sheep was found dead near the edge of the paddock. The paddock shares a fence with Globe Bay Reserve and is surrounded by residential property....

Failed cattle shipment exposes live exports’ inherent flaws Source: SAFE For Animals — A planned export of 12,300 cattle organised by Genetic Development Exports Limited Partnership failed after the livestock carrier Al Kuwait broke down en route to Aotearoa. Read more

In a High Court decision released today, Justice Churchman found errors and procedural defects in the Government’s process when reissuing the rodeo code of welfare in 2018. While the Court declined to make a ruling on the legality of rodeo, the Court has dismissed the judicial review sought by the...

The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) has confirmed that the poultry codes of welfare will be the next to be reviewed. This includes the codes of welfare for layer hens, chickens bred for their meat, and breeder birds. SAFE has been calling for an urgent review of the layer...