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‘An outrageous failure’: New photos spark fresh debate over winter grazing

July 10th, 2020
The issue of winter grazing is back in the spotlight after an animal rights group released photos of cows in mud on Thursday. SAFE accused the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) of “an outrageous failure” to enforce rules aimed at protecting stock. Read more

The most significant animal welfare court case in NZ history

July 10th, 2020
More than half of New Zealand’s pig farmers could be left in financial ruin if a first-of-its-kind court challenge is successful. The High Court is reviewing whether the use of cages in pig farming is actually illegal under the Animal Welfare Act. It’s the first case of its kind in...

NZ should follow moves overseas to ban colony eggs, animal rights group says

July 10th, 2020
SAFE – Animal Rights Charity Safe photographed chickens in colony cages at Northern Eggs near Whangārei in December. Animal rights group Safe says New Zealand should follow Colorado, United States, which is the latest to ban caged hens. It was the fifth US state to do so. Colony cages were...

Cow-beating footage thrown out in court

July 10th, 2020
A Northland contract milker caught on hidden camera beating cows with a steel pipe has had five charges against him dropped after a judge ruled the footage was obtained unlawfully. While it was agreed the footage – first exposed in a Newsroom story in 2018 – showed the mistreatment of...

Camera never lies, but can be set aside

July 10th, 2020
Cat MacLennan argues there’s scanty evidence for a decision to rule footage of a sharemilker beating cows with a metal pole inadmissible on the grounds it would encourage more undercover filming The judge in the cow cruelty case of Ministry for Primary Industries v Luke ruled that hidden camera film...

Old foes united over farmer’s ‘shocking’ sentence

July 10th, 2020
Five charges against a Northland farmer were dropped after hidden camera footage was thrown out of court. (File photo) Dairy farmers and animal rights activists are united in their criticism of the sentence handed down to aWhāngāreifarmer after footage of him hitting cows with a metal bar was thrown out...

Northland farm abuse case: Minister rejects call for separate body to oversee animal welfare

July 10th, 2020
The Agriculture Minister has rejected suggestions by an animal rights group for a separate Crown entity to ensure animal welfare laws are adhered to. Damien O’Connor said there was a National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and a separate ethics committee which provided plenty of independent oversight between them. Read more

NZ’s top dairy farmer ‘should be stripped of his award’

July 10th, 2020
Animal rights group Safe is calling for 2020 Share Farmer of the Year winner Nick Bertram to be stripped of his award over a series of “profanity-laden tweets” from 2017. New Zealand’s top dairy farmer advocated “cruel and illegal methods” to handle his cows, which he called “b……”, animal rights...

SAFE concerned by award winner’s historic tweets

July 10th, 2020
[00:00:01] The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards Trust [NZDIA] is investigating historical tweets posted by a recent winner.  [00:00:09] Trust chair, Natasha Tere, says it has been made aware of the comments from 2020 Share Farmer of the Year, Nick Bertram and is now investigating the situation.  Read more

SFOTY in hot water over social media posts

July 9th, 2020
Organisers of the NZ Dairy Industry Awards are investigating unsavoury social media comments allegedly made by the newly crowned 2020 Share Farmer of the Year, Nick Bertram. In a statement the NZDIA Trust chair Natasha Tere says they have been made aware of “historical comments” made by Bertram. Read more

NZ Share Farmer of the Year winner a profane industry poster boy – SAFE NZ

July 9th, 2020
In 2017, Nick Bertram posted on Twitter a series of profanity-laden Tweets describing the cruel and illegal methods he uses to handle his cows, which he called ‘bitches.’ Bertram won the ‘Share Farmer of the Year’ award at the 2020 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) on Saturday. Read more

In memory of Regan Russell, featuring her friends, Toronto Pig Save, and Camille Labchuk

July 6th, 2020
On today’s show, we remember Regan Russell. Regan was an animal rights activist with Toronto Pig Save, who was tragically killed recently when she was hit by a truck transport pigs. We’re joined by some of those who were closest to her, to share her story

Sharemilker who bashed cows with a pipe given a slap on the wrist

July 6th, 2020
Northland sharemilker Mike Luke who was filmed repeatedly and violently bashing his cows was sentenced in the Whangārei District Court today and fined $3,130. The footage was taken by Farmwatch after complaints from farm workers were ignored by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). Read more
NZ egg distributor sentenced for selling 3 million cage eggs as ‘free-range’

NZ egg distributor sentenced for selling 3 million cage eggs as ‘free-range’

July 22nd, 2020
A New Zealand egg distributor who sold 3 million cage eggs as free-range eggs was sentenced to 12 months’ home detention yesterday. While it’s encouraging to see Mr Chen being held accountable for his actions, this isn’t the first time someone has sold cage eggs as free-range eggs, and it...
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