News

Following the release of new video evidence filmed at the Mid Northern rodeo in Whangarei demonstrating the brutality of rodeo events, plus further footage from the Upper Mohaka rodeo, eight companies have severed ties with rodeo, says SAFE. Real estate agents LJ Hooker, Ray White and Harcourts; Firth Industries, Rock...

A new investigation filmed at the Upper Mohaka rodeo on 22 January by Farmwatch shows  animals clearly in distress. The footage provides further evidence of  the routine, widespread suffering of the animals used in rodeo events. The footage shows: Calves being hurled off the ground by ropes around their necks;...

New video evidence filmed at the Mid Northern rodeo in Whangarei this month demonstrates the brutality of rodeo events, says SAFE.  Animals were filmed clearly fearful and stressed, as well as being deliberately shocked with an electric prod. The investigation shows that animal welfare is severely compromised at rodeo events....

Guest blogger FLIP GRATER is a singer-songwriter from Christchurch with many albums to her credit. She is also a published author of  vegetarian travel cookbooks and an avid foodie. Her harrowing song  ‘Where’s the Door’ featured in two of SAFE’s television ads to help  caged pigs and hens. The SAFE...

We know Countdown’s customers care about hens  and want the supermarket giant to stop selling all cage eggs. Now people  of all ages have put their message in writing, telling Countdown their  personal reason why they want cage-free, and snapped a photo for a new website. Countdown’s parent company, Woolworths,...

New Zealanders don’t like hens being kept in  cages. We know that and you know that, but it seemed Countdown still  didn’t want to listen. It was time they REALLY understood, so caring  Kiwis decided to take their message to them in a slightly different way  and ask them to...

Guest blogger Carolyn Press-McKenzie is the founder and CEO of HUHA (Helping You Help Animals),  New Zealand’s leading ‘no kill’ shelter. HUHA actively works every day  to find homes and foster care for a multitude of homeless, abandoned,  seized and abused animals. Quinn is just one of thousands of animals...

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...