Protect the Ban on Live Export

New Zealand banned live export by sea in April 2023. It was an incredible step forward for the country, being the first to implement such a ban. Unfortunately, the new Government has pledged to overturn this world-leading victory for animals. This move would not only be a huge step backward for New Zealand in terms of animal welfare and trade, but also would subject hundreds of thousands of animals each year to long, arduous journeys by sea, and uncertain futures in countries where we have little to no control over how they are treated. Sign the petition to protect the ban

Livestock Export New Zealand (LENZ) has launched a formidable $1 million lobbying campaign, seeking to influence kiwi’s views of live export and persuade the Government to reverse the ban.

To stand a fighting chance in this battle to protect the rights of animals we urgently need to raise $100,000. Please consider donating to our campaign to protect the ban.

There have been no shipments of live animals for slaughter purposes since 2008. Live export for breeding continued until 30 April 2023 when New Zealand enacted a world-leading ban the live export of cows, sheep, deer and goats by sea. Millions of animals, however, are still exported by air from New Zealand. 

A ban on the live export of cows, sheep, deer and goats by sea came into effect on 30 April 2023. During New Zealand’s 2023 election season however, the National and ACT parties vowed to overturn the ban, posing a significant risk to animal welfare and New Zealand’s international reputation.  Show them you don’t support their decision to reverse the ban by signing the petition today.

The Government has indicated it will undertake a review on how a ‘gold standard’ of animal welfare can be implemented in the live export trade. There is a risk that the Government may also overturn the ban by passing legislation under urgency.  

Whatever may happen, SAFE will fight protect the ban on live export by sea and ensure that New Zealand’s animals are treated with the dignity and compassion they deserve, but we can’t do it without you.

The previous Labour Government imposed a ban on live export by sea following decades of substantial evidence indicating that animals suffer during transport and in their destination countries. Numerous tragedies at sea, the poor treatment of New Zealand animals overseas, public outcry for ban and expert consensus on the risks of live export all led the previous Government to this decision. 

Following New Zealand’s ban on live export by sea, many other countries began following in our footsteps and taking steps to review and phase out the industry. On 2 July 2024, Australia enacted a ban on the live export of sheep by sea. This is set to come into effect on 1 May 2028.

If New Zealand were to overturn its ban, it would not only risk the health and welfare of New Zealand’s animals but may jeopardise international progress for the humane treatment of animals.  

Animals selected for live export are taken from their familiar herds and made to endure harrowing journeys to countries with little to no animal protection laws.  

Transport by sea is inherently stressful for animals. They are exposed to rough waters, lack of ventilation and prolonged periods of standing in their own excrement, leading to increased risk of heat stress, injury, illness, and death.  

In their destination countries, animals are vulnerable to being treated in ways that may be illegal in New Zealand. Former Chair of the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), Dr John Hellstrom, said:  

“The reality is they are mainly going to large feedlot operations, where there is high mortality and poor fertility. The way they treat bobby calves shouldn’t be mentioned in public, and they don’t have any significant welfare protocols for transport or slaughter.” 

Analysis by The Guardian found that live export ships are at least twice as likely to suffer a total loss through sinking as standard cargo vessels. Seven live export ships have been lost since 2009 and if New Zealand follows through with overturning the ban, further disasters are imminent.  

Animals are crammed tightly onto live export ships where they have limited ability to move and display normal behaviours. Animals like cows and sheep who would normally graze on pasture are fed an unnatural grain-based diet which can cause digestive complications and discomfort. Animals are also made to stand in their own excrement during voyage. These unsanitary conditions can increase animals’ risk of infection and disease. 

 Animals can easily lose their footing in rough waters, leaving them vulnerable to injury and death. When animals are injured on-board, they are sometimes killed and simply thrown overboard. Some animals may even be transported during pregnancy. Stress can alter the metabolic, hormonal, and immune health of transported animals, making them more susceptible to disease.  

It’s clear that the conditions on live export ships are inherently risky and inhumane.  

If the ban on live export by sea is overturned, hundreds of thousands of animals will suffer. In 2022, over 130,000 cows were subjected to inhumane conditions on live export ships. 

The evidence is in on the risks of live animal export. The Ministry for Primary Industries and its animal welfare advisors at the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) have already recommended a ban on live export by sea, which was also supported by animal welfare experts at SAFE, SPCA, World Animal Protection and many others. The public have also made their position clear; 86% of public submissions received during MPI’s 2020 review of the live export trade advocated for a total ban.  

Since implementing the ban, several countries are already following in New Zealand’s footsteps by moving away from live animal exports including Australia, Luxembourg, Brazil, and the European Union. Animal welfare standards have also been given consideration during Free Trade Agreement negotiations with the United Kingdom and the European Union. 

Overturning New Zealand’s world-leading ban on live export by sea is a grave risk to our reputation as a country with strong animal welfare standards, and threats international progress for the humane treatment of animals.  

Please consider making a donation to SAFE’s campaign to protect the ban on Live Export.

In April 2019, an ABC exposé revealed hundreds of thousands of New Zealand cows suffering on Sri Lanken farms. In response, the Labour Government conducted a review of the trade, considering a range of options from improving existing systems to a total ban. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) received over 3,500 submissions, many of which were from SAFE supporters. 

In September 2020, the Gulf Livestock 1 capsized in the East China Sea, taking the lives of 5,867 New Zealand cows and 41 crew members (including two New Zealanders). Following the Gulf Livestock tragedy, MPI temporarily suspended live export while it conducted a further review of animal welfare during live export voyages (the ‘Heron’ review). Upon completion of the Heron review in October 2020, live export resumed with some new regulations such as reducing stocking density on ships and increasing the amount of food that must be carried on ships. SAFE criticised these changes as merely tinkering around the edges, arguing that live export was inherently dangerous and inhumane.  

On 14 April 2021, after more than 40,000 people contacted the Prime Minister calling for a ban, former Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced a ban on the live export of cows, sheep, deer and goats by sea following a two-year ‘wind-down’ period. On 30 April 2023, the ban finally came into effect. 

Ultimately, people power played a pivotal role in driving New Zealand to ban live export by sea. Now, to safeguard this crucial victory for animals, we need to use our collective voice once again to ensure the continued protection of Aotearoa’s animals

A ban on the live export of cows, sheep, deer and goats by sea came into effect on April 30th, 2023. Disappointingly, exporting live animals by air was not included in this ban and will be allowed to continue. New Zealand exports goats, llamas, pigs, alpacas, bees, deer, horses, and millions of day-old baby chicks by air every year. We also export sea creatures such as longfin eels – who are “at risk” native animals. 

Live export by air carries many of the same risks and animal welfare concerns as live export by sea. Regardless of the method of transport, most animals exported from New Zealand end up in countries with lower animal welfare standards and are likely to spend their lives in intensive farms. They will eventually be slaughtered, usually through methods that are not legal in New Zealand.