Media releases

Greyhound Racing New Zealand’s (GRNZ) most recent quarterly report to the Racing Minister suggests there may still be “unnecessary” euthanasia occurring under the banner of behavioural issues, or medical euthanasia for illness or injury. The Racing Integrity Board (RIB) also uncovered a potential causal link between poor racing performance and...

TikTok video demonstrates the gratuitous violence of pig hunting Source: SAFE For Animals — A graphic video uploaded to TikTok last year shows a frightened pig mauled by six dogs. The dogs can be seen biting and latching onto the pig’s head, ears, and neck. Read more

New Zealand King Salmon has revealed a 42% mortality rate for salmon they farmed in warm water areas in their financial year ending 31 January 2022. For the salmon towed to cooler water the mortality rate was 37%. SAFE Campaigns Manager Anna de Roo said it’s an animal welfare disaster....

Government investment in plant-based food company a step in the right direction Source: SAFE For Animals — The Government announced on Tuesday that Sustainable Foods Ltd, which produces the plant-based food brand ‘plan-t’, will receive Government backing with a $1.25 million loan from the Regional Strategic Partnership Fund. Read more

SAFE is launching its “Forgotten Victims of Factory Farming” campaign today and demanding a code of welfare for farmed fishes. Fishes are the only farmed animal in Aotearoa with no code of welfare. This lack of regulation is creating an animal welfare disaster on an enormous scale. Read more

SAFE’s petition calling for a Commissioner for Animals in Aotearoa has attained thousands of signatures since its launch on 3 May 2022. The petition highlights the need for an independent voice for animals at the highest level and is supported by animal groups across the country. Read more

The Government has announced no meaningful plan to reduce emissions in agriculture, instead opting to invest in more research projects. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has previously stated that climate change is “one of the greatest challenges of our time” and that we must “act with urgency”. Read more

On Tuesday, following a race at Addington Raceway, greyhound ‘Epic Addi’ was found to have a displaced compound fracture of the right fore ulna and radius, with soft tissue damage up to the elbow joint. Eight greyhounds have died on racetracks to date this season, with five of the eight...

The bird shooting season, which begins on Saturday 7 May this year, means countless birds, including natives like pūkeko, kakīānau (black swan), pūtangitangi (paradise shelduck), pārera (grey duck) and kuruwhengi (Australasian shoveler duck), will be killed. Read more

SAFE launches a petition calling for a Commissioner for Animals The petition is supported by leading animal organisations New Zealand Animal Law Association (NZALA), Helping You Help Animals (HUHA) and the New Zealand Anti-vivisection Society (NZAVS). Read more

SAFE will join protestors around the country on Saturday 30 April 2022, who are rallying together from midday to demonstrate their opposition to live export by sea. As part of a ‘National Day of Action,’ independently organised protests will be held across multiple locations in Aotearoa including Wellington, Auckland, Dunedin,...

Yesterday at Addington raceway, the greyhound Gary collided with other dogs and tumbled shortly after reaching the lure, having just crossed the finish line. He was trampled by four other dogs, which caused a catastrophic injury to his right front leg. Read more

NZ sacrificed action on climate in favour of agriculture in IPCC report Source: SAFE For Animals — Aotearoa Government officials successfully scrubbed ‘plant-based’ diets from the highly influential ‘summary for policymakers’ version of the latest IPCC report, and lobbied for switching the language to ‘healthy sustainable diets’. Read more

An urgent transition away from animal agriculture is needed, in light of IPCC report Source: SAFE For Animals — The latest report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released overnight shows that global emissions are now on track to exceed the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 degrees celsius warning...