News

Animal rights activists are claiming victory after an annual rodeo was cancelled due to financial pressures. But the Mid Northern Rodeo Club says it will be back and bigger than ever in 2021, with a festival aimed at a broader audience. Animal rights organisation Safe said the majority of New...

Animals will be at risk of injury or death at the first of three “Mad Bull” rodeo events in Otokia this weekend. The annual rodeo season last year saw four animals killed at events across the country. A horse was killed at last year’s Methven Rodeo, along with a horse...

The rodeo association says the cancellation of one of its summer events is a blip, not a trend, and is confident rodeo’s popularity is not waning in the face of opposition. Photo: 123rf Animal welfare group SAFE said the cancellation of next year’s Mid Northern Rodeo is partially the result...

Animal rights organisation SAFE has been reliably informed that the Mid Northern Rodeo Club has cancelled its annual rodeo event in 2020 due to financial pressures. The Mid Northern Rodeo, which has taken place every year in Whangarei since the 1960s was cancelled due to alleged financial constraints. Read more

Local government representatives were among those calling for legislation to ban private fireworks sales, during a presentation to Parliament’s Governance and Administration Select Committee today. Auckland councillors Cathy Casey and Fa’anana Efeso Collins discussed the Auckland Council’s submission to the Government to introduce the legislation. Read more

The capsizing of a livestock carrier off the coast of Romania has renewed calls by an animal welfare group for New Zealand to ban the practice of live exports completely. The Palau-flagged Queen Hind with approximately 14,600 sheep on board capsized on Sunday night after leaving the port of Midia....

Fourteen thousand sheep are trapped inside a live export ship which capsized off the coast of Romania on Sunday night. Many of the sheep have likely drowned. Livestock carrier Queen Hind capsized on Sunday night after leaving the port of Midia. Early responders rescued all 22 crew members and at...

SAFE is pleased to announce Williams Hotel Group has pledged to ditch cage eggs across all of its hotels nationwide. After discussions with its food supplier, the New Zealand owned hotel group confirmed with SAFE its kitchens would no longer be serving eggs from caged hens. Williams Hotel Group has...

Animal rights organisation SAFE will be protesting at the annual Martinborough Bucking Bulls rodeo event in the Wairarapa tomorrow. The Martinborough Bucking Bulls is part of the annual rodeo season, which last year saw four animals killed at events across the country. Read more

Delicious plant-based eateries receive the 2019 EAT KIND Awards For the third year running, SAFE has celebrated World Vegan Day by recognising eateries who are going above and beyond to offer up the most delicious, innovative plant-based dishes. With more plant-based eateries sprouting up around the country, this year’s decision...

Claims a livestock vessel built to carry 4000 head of cattle has covertly docked in Timaru have been rubbished by port authorities. Livestock carrier Brahman Express berthed at Timaru’s port on Thursday night and was not listed on PrimePort Timaru’s shipping schedule. Read more

Massey University researchers are looking to the dairy, beef and meat industry to help introduce what they say has the potential to end the slaughtering of bobby calves. Calves are created for milk production in the dairy industry, with a large number being slaughtered from four days old. Read more

A live export vessel has covertly berthed at Timaru Port, bringing this year’s shipments of live animals up to a total of eight. Livestock carrier Brahman Express berthed at Timaru Port on Thursday night. The ship came to the attention of animal rights organisation SAFE on this morning. Read more

Raised by his grandparents on a dairy farm, on the South Island’s West Coast, Aaron has been milking cows since he was six years old. For the past few years, Aaron and his partner Sarah have been converting more and more of their land to grow hemp to fuel their...