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No major changes for agriculture with new Cabinet line-up

November 19th, 2020
It’s business as usual for the primary sector with ministerial portfolios remaining relatively unchanged but from a few tweaks. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas Damien O’Connor has kept his job as Minister of Agriculture, one he held last term, and picks up Trade and Export Growth from David Parker and...

Government’s racing minister role contradicts new animal welfare portfolio – SAFE

November 19th, 2020
A New Zealand animal welfare group says the Government’s racing minister role in Cabinet contradicts the new animal welfare position. Yesterday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced her new Cabinet – appointing Grant Robertson, who is also Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, to racing. Read more A reminder of our...

Live cattle export ban petition gains nearly 12,000 signatures

November 19th, 2020
Live cattle exports were carried out from Port Taranaki on board the Gelbray Express earlier in 2020. Nearly 12,000 people have signed a petition calling for an end to live cattle exports from Port Taranaki. Animal rights organisation SAFE, and Taranaki Animal Rights Group (TARG) presented an online petition with...

‘Appalled’ locals protest arrival of livestock carrier in Timaru

November 19th, 2020
Protesters are gathering in Timaru on Wednesday as the world’s largest livestock vessel prepares to take thousands of cattle to China. The shipment follows the capsizing of the Gulf Livestock 1 in September, which sank off the coast of Japan with 43 crew onboard – including two New Zealanders –...

Livestock carrier in Napier sparks another protest

November 19th, 2020
Another protest against live cattle exports is taking place on Saturday, with the arrival of the livestock carrier Yangtze Fortune in Napier. Animal rights group SAFE said the demonstration was intended to send a message that “Kiwis across the country are fed up with a lack of action from the...

Live export ship Yangtze Fortune docks in Napier before taking 5000 cattle to China

November 19th, 2020
The Yangtze Fortune (right), which is expected to carry 5000 cattle overseas has docked at the Napier Port. A livestock ship which is expected to carry 5000 cattle to China docked at Napier Port on Monday. The Yangtze Fortune arrived after 9am, and is due to depart Napier at 10.30pm...

Thousands of cattle loaded on to live export ship in the dark

November 19th, 2020
Government officials say there was nothing unusual about the loading of a live export ship in Timaru at the weekend, despite claims thousands of animals were sent aboard in the dark to avoid scrutiny. The claims come after two animals reportedly jumped from a truck en route to the livestock...

‘Violent’ rodeo video prompts calls for UK shoppers to boycott NZ farming products

November 19th, 2020
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Agriculture minister introduced ‘unlawful and invalid’ pig welfare standards, judge rules

November 19th, 2020
Farrowing crates restrict the movement of sows and reduce their ability to carry out nest building and other normal behaviours. Animal welfare standards brought in by Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor in 2018 were illegal and invalid because they circumvented earlier law changes designed to phase out the controversial practice of...

Farrowing crates for pigs being ruled unlawful is a victory for all animals

November 19th, 2020
Both pigs and humans alike should rejoice over the High Court’s ruling on farrowing crates, writes University of Otago law lecturer Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere. If you know anything about pigs, it’ll likely be that despite their slovenly and biblically-dubious reputation, actually, they’re quite clever creatures. Read more

Two New Zealanders onboard ship missing in Japanese region hit by typhoon

November 19th, 2020
Two New Zealanders are believed to be onboard a ship missing during a typhoon off the coast of Japan. The ship, Gulf Livestock 1, carrying about 6000 cows left Napier on August 14, carrying 43 crew members. Stuff understands there are at least two New Zealanders on board and one...

Missing livestock carrier with two New Zealanders onboard sank during rough weather – survivor

November 19th, 2020
A crew member plucked from the sea during a search for a missing livestock ship has confirmed it sank during rough weather, the Japan Coastguard says. The Filipino man was rescued after being spotted bobbing in the water. Earlier on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) said...

Agriculture minister mum on future of live animal exports as public calls grow for a ban

November 19th, 2020
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor will not comment on the future of live animal shipments from New Zealand, as public calls grow for the exports to stop after the loss of a large animal carrier in a storm this week. New Zealand has suspended live cattle exports after a ship carrying...

Cattle ship capsize: Role of live export trade under intense scrutiny

November 19th, 2020
A Government review into the live export trade will not be released before the election despite calls for it after the capsizing of a ship carrying thousands of cows and two New Zealanders, during a typhoon. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she would not pre-empt the outcome of that review...
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