Media releases

SAFE is urgently renewing calls for a Commissioner for Animals, following MPI’s lacklustre response to images of thin to emaciated cows, taken on two separate farms in recent weeks. SAFE received images via its 0800 EXPOSE programme, which showed thin cattle on a farm near Palmerston. The images were passed...

Top greyhound trainer John McInerney has escaped charges on a technicality following the Racing Integrity Board’s (RIB) investigation into 11 greyhounds taken to a Christchurch rehoming facility earlier this year. The RIB found that one dog had an injury that should have been diagnosed earlier, and subsequently needed two partial...

With more severe weather expected, SAFE is urging farmers to take immediate measures to protect newborn lambs. Heavy snowfall overnight has left countless lambs at the mercy of the freezing conditions. SAFE Head of Investigations Will Appelbe said farming practices have to change. “Every year, lambs born in the late...

Another greyhound has tested positive for methamphetamine in the racing industry. The drug was detected in June 2022 in Palmerston North only after the trainer used a string of excuses to delay the urine swab by two hours. SAFE Campaigns Manager Anna de Roo said methamphetamine detections in the greyhound...

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