News

In the wake of the global pandemic known as COVID-19, our work on behalf of animals is more important than ever – and it will continue. As we work together as a country to mitigate the risk posed by this pandemic, undoubtedly many of our supporters have been impacted in...

The live export of 3300 cattle to China is planned this weekend from Port Taranaki – the second similar shipment since the end of January this year. (File photo) A port company which helps businesses export live cattle as a way to diversify its trade is out of step with...

Animal rights advocates are appalled by the “clear disregard for animal welfare” they say was shown at the Urenui Rodeo last month. Anneka Carlson was one of nearly 30 protesters outside the event on the day, and says she was horrified to be shown a video showing a clear breach...

A rodeo in Dunedin will go ahead in April, despite calls from an animal rights group for the event to be cancelled. Radio New Zealand reported last month two bulls were euthanised in club events over summer after being hurt. One of the bulls had its back strained while bucking...

A protester at the Urenui Rodeo in north Taranaki earlier this month filmed a rider wrestling a steer for too long. The Ministry for Primary Industries confirmed a breach of the welfare code, but said no offence was committed. OPINION: Last month it was revealed that the New Zealand rodeo...

World Animal Protection (WAP) has downgraded New Zealand’s animal protection ranking. The international non-profit animal welfare organisation reduced New Zealand’s ranking from an ‘A’, awarded in 2014, to a ‘C’ in its latest report. WAP says the downgrade is primarily due to the Government’s lack of legislation outlawing cruel practices....

World Animal Protection has downgraded New Zealand’s animal protection ranking in a recently released report. The Animal Protection Index ranks 50 countries around the world according to their animal welfare policies and legislation. The index awarded New Zealand’s animal protection efforts an ‘A’ in 2014, however World Animal Protection has...

A wholefood, plant-based diet is healthy for individuals at all stages of life, according to nutrition experts worldwide. Plant-based and vegan diets have been criticised in recent weeks by New Zealand nutritionists who have stated they wouldn’t recommend the diet to young people. Read more

Two animal rights organisations are demanding the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) cancel a Dunedin rodeo following the deaths of two animals. SAFE and Direct Animal Action are calling for MPI to conduct an audit of the ‘Mad Bull’ rodeo club following the deaths of two bulls, one at each...

A recent incident at the Urenui Rodeo in North Taranaki has drawn attention to concerns about animal welfare at such events. A protestor at the Urenui Rodeo in north Taranaki captured a rider wrestling a steer for too long. New Zealand’s national rodeo body has acknowledged processes need to change...

Footage captured by activists at the Urenui rodeo on Saturday shows a breach of the rodeo code of welfare. The footage which was passed onto SAFE yesterday shows a steer wrestling event that exceeds the rodeo code of welfare’s 30 second time limit. Steer wrestling is an event where a...

Over the past thirty years, there haven’t been two people as iconic as Hans and Nichola Kriek in the Aotearoa animal rights movement. Their work has had a massive impact on the country and raised many of the issues that animals face to public awareness. There are countless activists who...

New poll figures reveal that more than half of New Zealanders who had attended a rodeo event supported a ban on rodeo. A recent Horizon Research poll commissioned by animal rights organisation SAFE shows that 60% of those polled who had attended a rodeo in the previous 12 months supported...

[email protected] Two bulls have been killed in sporting events this summer, after suffering injuries bad enough that they had to be euthanised. 80 bulls have taken part in two Mad Bull Rodeo Club competitions during the summer, two had to be put down because of injuries. Read more