This Act would be revolutionary if it wasn’t ignored by those who write the regulations. Instead, New Zealand is in a situation where loopholes have been created through the implementation of Codes of Welfare and Regulations. Many of these are drafted by farmers, for farmers, and are in direct contradiction to the principles of the Act. For example, rodeo causes animals distress and often leads to harm — this is in no way acceptable under the requirement of animals to be handled in a way that minimises stress and harm.
The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee continues to use such loopholes to justify the use of many practices that the public finds abhorrent and which are technically illegal under the Act. SAFE continues to campaign against factory farming in Aotearoa and created history, becoming the first organisation to take the Government to court for animals.