News

New Zealand prides itself on its animal welfare  reputation, yet evidence shows the minimum legal standards for care are  not even being met in some circumstances, with the New Zealand pork  industry refusing to give sows nesting material before they give birth. They are ignoring government advice that they need to do so. Sows...

In the article ‘Kiwi research explores emotions in farm animals’ (New Zealand Herald, Monday 19 December 2016), scientist Gosia Zobel  discusses her work conducting trials into the emotional state of dairy  calves, commenting on one test that: “The level of anticipation at the  sight of the flashing light, and the...

New Zealanders are encouraged to try eating vegan this January as part of a worldwide movement called Veganuary, says SAFE.   The organisation is urging Kiwis to make their New Year’s resolution count by taking part in a vegan challenge that is better for animals and the environment, and contributes to good health....

The Ministry for Primary Industries has today released figures  on the numbers of animals used for research, testing and teaching in  2015. It was reported that 225,310 animals were used, over 4,300 per  week; a drop from the 310,287 used in 2014. The animals experimented on  included cows, mice, rabbits,...

Suzanne Paul, well known entrepreneur, TV personality and presenter, has joined with animal advocacy organisation SAFE to produce a spoof video explaining New Zealand’s new colony cage system for layer hens. Using her natural humour and personality she shows what life is like for hens in the colony cages. Named...

Today, November 10, members of the public outraged by the  government’s deliberate inaction on rodeo will be joined by SAFE,  Farmwatch and Green Party MP Mojo Mathers outside Parliament to rally  against the continued abuse of animals.  The Primary Production Select Committee this week responded to the  62,000 strong petition...

The Government’s announcement today that no action will be taken  to ban rodeo, following a 62,000-strong petition from New Zealanders,  has angered leading animal welfare organisations.    SAFE is calling the process a big disappointment, both for animals and  the public who, the organisation says, made it clear that they...

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world’s  leading hotel companies, has announced they will use only cage-free eggs  worldwide by 2025. IHG operates seven hotels in New Zealand under the  Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and InterContinental brands.   This latest announcement is part of a worldwide movement to free...

‘DROP DAIRY’ – these words are now plastered on an eye-catching billboard that has gone up in a high visibility location on Auckland’s Hobson Street today.  Approximately two million ‘bobby’ calves are killed at a few days old in New Zealand, and if their bodies were placed end to end,...

Footage filmed at a Waikato farm last year by Farmwatch and released today has shown the mistreatment of a cow, which was found suspended from a tractor by ‘hip clamps’ for some time, whilst her dead calf lay metres away.  Advocacy organisations SAFE and Farmwatch say it demonstrates yet more...

Dairy farming is once again in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons say SAFE and Farmwatch.  New footage obtained by Farmwatch investigators shows that a year on from the explosive 2015 exposé of the New Zealand dairy industry, calves continue to be mistreated. In the 2016 calving season investigation...

SAFE – Animal Rights Charity Rodeo season starts on the 22 of October with two events in the South Island over the weekend. Animal rights advocate SAFE is urging the government to follow public opinion and make this season the last. SAFE is drawing attention to the fact that animal...

12-year-old schoolgirl Maja Skilling, who launched a petition aimed at stopping Countdown selling cage eggs, is upping the ante by spending her school holiday protesting with other passionate young people outside Ponsonby Countdown today.  Maja will be demanding that Countdown, ‘Have a Heart for Hens’ in Auckland, Thursday 6 October,...

Animal advocacy organisation SAFE is urging PM John Key to do the right  thing and reject the promised ‘gift’ of an elephant from the Sri Lankan  government. The call comes ahead of Sri Lanka Prime Minister, Ranil  Wickremesinghe’s first visit to New Zealand from 1-3 October, where he  will meet...