News

Today SAFE and the New Zealand Animal Law Association (NZALA) have published a full-page open letter in the New Zealand Herald, calling on the Prime Minister to appoint a Commissioner for Animals. In June 2020, SAFE and NZALA made legal history for mother pigs. For the first time in New...

Last month the High Court found that the Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor, on the advice of the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), had acted unlawfully by not phasing out the use of farrowing crates and mating stalls. Now that the Government has accepted the Court’s decision, SAFE and...

Worldwide, 6.5 billion day-old male chicks are killed each year because the egg industry considers them to be unwanted by-products of egg production. This is because male chickens cannot lay eggs and are not suitable to be raised for meat. Last week, the trade association representing the largest egg producers...

This Saturday, so-called ‘cowboys’ will put animals at risk of injury or death at the ‘Mad Bull’ rodeo in Otago and the WFL Bull Ride Martinborough. Two bulls were killed at the Mad Bull rodeo last year, and another was killed at the Martinborough bull ride in 2018. Read more

Summer means barbeque season! If you’re new to plant-based eating, a barbeque invitation can be a little daunting ‒ but it doesn’t have to be. You just need the know-how. That’s where we can help. Barbeques and Christmas celebrations can be the perfect time to put on a plant-based extravaganza,...

Five dogs in five weeks. That’s how many greyhounds have been killed recently by the Greyhound racing industry. The industry is facing increased scrutiny, and the SPCA have stepped into the ring. And it’s been twelve months since a catastrophe took pl

Last year, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) embarked on a review of the live export industry, the outcome of which could be a ban on the trade. Despite this, MPI is currently advertising for a manager to look after live animal exports. The ministry says this is a team...

A group of lawyers has stepped up to ensure the rule of law prevails in two cases of animal cruelty that are both legal firsts in Aotearoa. New Zealand’s first rodeo prosecution The New Zealand Animal Law Association (NZALA) successfully took a private prosecution against Northland farmer Derek Robinson in...

The SPCA has joined calls for greyhound racing to be banned following the death of three dogs within three weeks. It comes as the Greyhound Protection League, alongside animal rights charity Save Animals From Exploitation (SAFE), has created a petition to ban the sport. Read more

A total of 199 greyhounds were euthanised in the last racing season, according to Greyhound Racing New Zealand. The organisation has released its 2020 Annual Report, which details the number of dogs euthanised either after being injured during races, or for undisclosed reasons. Read more

Nearly 200,000 chickens died at D B Chicks near Auckland’s Helensville on November 29, 2019. (File photo) An investigation into a mass chicken death incident remaining incomplete a year on is “inexcusable”, an animal welfare organisation says. About 190,000 chickens died at D B Chicks near Helensville, northwest of Auckland,...

Meet Vinnie.   Aside from the occasional zoomie, Vinnie spends his days hanging out with his human and doggie friends and snuggling anyone willing to lend him a lap. He’s really just a docile couch potato. Vinnie is a loved and valued member of his family. This cuddly and affectionate...

The annual rodeo season continues this weekend with the first of three ‘Mad Bull’ rodeos on Saturday. Like last year, animals will be at risk of injury or death. Two animals died last rodeo season, both at ‘Mad Bull’ events. SAFE spokesperson Will Appelbe said the treatment of animals at...

New figures from Greyhound Racing New Zealand’s 2020 annual report show the industry still has a problem with greyhound fatalities. The report states that 34 dogs were killed on racetracks, and 165 euthanised for undisclosed reasons during the 2019/20 season. Read more