News

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today announced her Ministerial list, which saw Meka Whaitiri reinstated as Associate Minister of Agriculture with responsibility for Animal Welfare. She will be a Minister outside of cabinet. SAFE CEO Debra Ashton said she’s pleased that the Labour Government are putting a focus back on animal...

New analysis from The Guardian has found that live export ships are twice as likely to be lost at sea as cargo vessels. SAFE Campaigns Manager Bianka Atlas said the growing evidence supports what SAFE has been saying for years. “It is clear that the live export trade places the...

Gareth Hughes was previously the Green Party’s animal welfare spokesperson and was a leading voice for animals within Parliament. During his time in politics he championed the 2014 ban on shark finning and accepted numerous petitions from animal advocacy groups. Read more

The Ministry for Primary Industries has released the Michael Heron QC report, which was commissioned as a result of the missing live export ship which capsized and sunk in the East China Sea. The recommendations don’t go far enough, which isn’t really al

The Ministry for Primary Industries has today released new requirements for the export of live animals by sea, following recommendations from a review into the animal welfare assurances MPI receives from exporters. The review was led by Mike Heron QC. Read more

In the lead up to this year’s general election, SAFE supporters rallied together to make sure animals were on the agenda. Thanks to the amazing support for this campaign, we are closer than ever to freeing all hens from cages in Aotearoa. It’s been clear for a long time that...

The annual rodeo season opens this weekend with the Winchester Rodeo on Saturday, and the Methven Rodeo on Sunday. Like last year, animals will be at risk of injury or death. Two animals died last rodeo season, both at the ‘Mad Bull’ rodeo in Otago. SAFE spokesperson Will Appelbe said...

In just over 200 years, New Zealand has gone from being a country with no cows to being the biggest exporter of dairy in the world.  There are more cows in New Zealand than humans. Each one of these animals is a sensitive individual with their own unique experience of...

In winter 2019, shocking images of cows up to their knees in mud, unable to lie down and rest, were in the media. Aerial footage revealed extensive environmental degradation in parts of Otago and Southland.  A Southland kindergarten was even forced to close when runoff from a nearby farm washed...

While New Zealand is gearing up to lift a temporary ban on live exports, 25 crew have tested positive for COVID-19 on the livestock carrier Al Messilah, which is docked at Fremantle Port in Western Australia. The ship, which was due to be loading animals for export, has been delayed...

Animal rights organisation SAFE has big expectations around colony cages for the next Labour government. SAFE CEO Debra Ashton said with a majority of the seats in Parliament, Labour can make quick progress on animal welfare. “Labour can really get things done now, like fulfilling some broken promises on animal...

Current polling suggests the Labour party will need the Greens to form a new Government and this could mean big gains for animals. SAFE CEO Debra Ashton said the two parties have already agreed on a phaseout of cruel colony cages in previous election campaigns. Read more

For most of our lives, advertisements have told us that cow’s milk is good for us, that we need it for strong bones, or if we are to have any chance of making New Zealand’s Olympic team. But is this backed up by science? Or is it just clever advertising?...

A Waihi dairy farming couple were fined over $7,500 yesterday for serious animal welfare charges. Between 2018 and 2019, three cows had to be euthanised to end their suffering, and 30 cows required urgent remedial treatment due to significant underfeeding. Read more A reminder of our responsibility: The Animal Welfare...