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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 –...

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...

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...

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...

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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...

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 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...

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 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...

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...

A former ship’s vet has called for an end to the live export trade, saying it’s both inhumane and unnecessary. Lynn Simpson worked in the Australian live export trade for 10 years and undertook 57 long-haul voyages to destinations like Russia and the Middle East, taking care of vast numbers...

SAFE – Animal Rights Charity Animal rights group SAFE says the Government’s independent review into livestock exports is mere “stalling” and akin to doing nothing. On Friday, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) announced a review would be undertaken to look at the assurances it receives when it considers an...

environment The sinking of a live export cattle ship has thrust the debate about live exports into the limelight and transformed one farmer from exporter to critic A first-time exporter of live animals said he’s never selling his animals offshore again after the sinking of the Livestock Gulf 1. Read...