Animals in Aotearoa
Political Survey 2023
With the 2023 general election around the corner, many New Zealanders want to how political parties plan to address the nation’s most pressing animal issues.
SAFE sent a short questionnaire to the political parties currently sitting in Parliament to learn more about their positions and policies on a variety of animal welfare topics.
A snapshot of their positions and more detailed comments can be found below.
Further comments made by the parties
Which parties support a ban on the caging of hens?
ACT Party | ACT has no position on this. NAWAC is responsible for science-based advice on the matter and whether the 2018 Code of Welfare is not fit for purpose. |
Labour Party | The transition period to phase out the use of battery cages has been completed. Hens must no longer be housed in battery cages as of 1 January 2023. At the time, NAWAC determined that colony cages met the requirements of the Act and allowed hens to express their normal behaviours such as perching, pecking, nesting, and scratching. Once further advice is provided by NAWAC on a potential review of the code for layer hens, it will be looked at.
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Green Party | No further comment |
National Party | No response |
Te Pāti Māori | No response |
Which parties support the establishment of a Commissioner for Animals?
ACT Party | ACT supports the current regulatory system, with independent advice coming from NAWAC. |
Labour Party | No further comment
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Green Party | The Green Party is committed to strengthening Aotearoa’s animal welfare standards and creating a new, well-resourced Parliamentary Commissioner for Animals to independently monitor and enforce these, and to advocate for animal welfare. |
National Party | No response |
Te Pāti Māori | No response |
Which parties support a ban on farrowing crates?
ACT Party | As above – ACT supports the current regulatory system with independent advice from NAWAC. We note that the issue is not simplistic, and that there are animal welfare issues concerning the piglets if farrowing crates are not used. |
Labour Party | In December 2020, the Labour Government agreed on a 5-year timeframe for the phase out of the traditional use of farrowing crate and mating stall systems in the pork industry. The regulations on farrowing crates came into effect on 18 December 2020. MPI, alongside the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), industry, and stakeholders will work together to find suitable alternatives to current farrowing and mating stall systems.
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Green Party | We are committed to phasing out harmful activities including greyhound racing, debeaking hens, factory farming and farrowing crates. |
National Party | No response |
Te Pāti Māori | No response |
Which parties support the ban on live export?
ACT Party | ACT will allow live animal exports by sea subject to a gold standard of animal welfare and safety. |
Labour Party | In a market where consumers are becoming more and more discerning about ethical and environmental credentials, this Labour Government has moved to ensure that New Zealand’s reputation for ethical trade is not at risk. This is why we initiated the review in 2019 and subsequently made the decision to cease live exports by sea by the end of April 2023 – a decision supported by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee
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Green Party | The live export ban was hard fought for – for years, the Greens, and so many other advocates and activists, worked tirelessly to get this legislation across. We are fully committed to maintaining this ban, and would like to see it expanded to include the protection of our taonga longfin eels. |
National Party | No response |
Te Pāti Māori | No response |
Which parties support a ban on greyhound racing?
ACT Party | It is a matter for independent science-based advice to the regulator. |
Labour Party | In April 2021, the Labour Government commissioned a review of animal welfare and safety in the greyhound racing industry. As a result of those findings, Labour put the industry ‘on notice’. The industry was instructed to make the recommended improvements to animal welfare or risk closure. We will continue to progress this issue. The Racing Integrity Board have been instructed to continue working closely with Greyhound Racing New Zealand to ensure animal welfare is prioritized until Cabinet can take a decision on the matter. |
Green Party | The Green Party, alongside SAFE and many others, have long called for an outright ban or phase-out of greyhound racing, and we have drafted a member’s bill which that would do just that. The industry has persistently failed to meet animal welfare standards for over a decade and no longer has the social license to operate. As one of only a few countries in the world which still allows this practice, the time is now to end the needless suffering inherent in the sport. |
National Party | No response |
Te Pāti Māori | No response |
Authorised by Save Animals from Exploitation Incorporated (SAFE), 297 Durham Street, Christchurch 8013
Take action
Other ways you can help animals in Aotearoa
Sign our petition calling for a Commissioner for Animals
Animals need an independent Commissioner to represent their voices and uphold their legal rights under the Animal Welfare Act 1999. There are Government bodies to represent vulnerable members of our community, including children and the environment. Animals are not represented in Parliament.