We are calling on the House of Representatives to create a new role of a Commissioner for Animals, to review the animal welfare system, including regulations, report on the latest animal welfare science, and provide independent oversight and accountability for animal welfare in Aotearoa.
People in New Zealand love animals. We have high standards when it comes to how animals are treated and expect New Zealand’s legislation to protect them from harm.
Sadly, a broken system in New Zealand is failing animals and it’s in need of urgent repair. Our once revolutionary Animal Welfare Act 1999 is being undermined by codes of welfare that allow practices which, according to the Act, should be illegal. The Government agency responsible for promoting animal agriculture is also charged with regulating animal welfare on the very farms it supports. The Ministers responsible for overseeing both animal agriculture and animal welfare have refused to phase out New Zealand’s outdated farming practices ‒ practices that are being made illegal around the world. The welfare of animals is secondary to profit because those responsible for protecting them have conflicting interests.
Animals in New Zealand need a voice. They need an independent Commissioner for Animals to ensure their rights are protected under the law.
New Zealand’s Animal Welfare Act 1999 (AWA) is being undermined by codes of welfare developed by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC). These codes contain loopholes that allow the mistreatment of animals to continue despite being illegal under the Act. This only serves to benefit the industries profiting from the animals in question. As a result, millions of animals in New Zealand are being exploited and harmed, while NAWAC and those working under the codes see no legal repercussions.
Our system is broken – but it can be fixed. We need an independent Commissioner for Animals to undertake an extensive review of the current system and to ensure the Animal Welfare Act 1999 is upheld. Let’s finally give Aotearoa’s animals a voice.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is responsible for regulating the welfare of animals on farms in New Zealand. However, its main function is to identify export opportunities whilst improving agricultural productivity. This is a fundamental conflict of interest.
Under the current system, the needs of animals on farms will always be secondary to economic benefits. MPI consistently demonstrates that animal welfare is not their priority. With over 160 million animals on farms across the country, MPI has allocated less than 30 animal welfare inspectors to oversee them all. Time and time again, charities like SAFE have publicly held MPI to account for failing to properly investigate welfare complaints and appropriately prosecute those who have committed serious animal welfare offences.
MPI’s refusal to allocate more resources towards overseeing the welfare of animals on farms and their poor enforcement of the law clearly demonstrates the Ministry is incapable of performing its crucial animal welfare duties.
Animals on New Zealand farms are being represented by Ministers who hold two portfolios with conflicting interests. Under the current system, the ministerial role with responsibility for farmed animal welfare is shared by the Minister of Agriculture, Hon Damien O’Connor and the Associate Minister of Agriculture, Hon Meka Whaitiri. The welfare of animals on farms cannot be adequately represented by Ministers whose primary interests and key objectives lie with promoting animal agriculture and increasing animal export and trades. Their focus is on increasing animal agricultural productivity at the cost of the welfare of the animals concerned.
This flawed system was highlighted in 2020, when SAFE and the New Zealand Animal Law Association (NZALA) held the Government to account in court for allowing the confinement of pigs in farrowing crates and mating stalls. The High Court ruled that the animal welfare standards implemented by Agriculture Minister Hon Damien O’Connor in 2018 were illegal and invalid as they breached earlier law changes designed to phase out the cruel practices.
The welfare of animals on farms will continue to be compromised so long as the Ministers of Agriculture are also the Ministers of Animal Welfare.
Every year in Aotearoa, calves, bulls and horses are tormented at rodeo events, while dogs and horses are pushed to their limits on racetracks. Despite hundreds of injuries and dozens of deaths at these events each year, the Government continues to allow these industries to self-regulate animal welfare with no external oversight.
The Animal Welfare Act 1999 is designed to protect animals from unnecessary pain and distress, however animals used for entertainment are not afforded this.
It is unacceptable for the industries profiting from the clear mistreatment of animals to oversee their own animal welfare regulations. We need a Commissioner for Animals to undertake an extensive review to identify the flaws within the current system and to ensure the Animal Welfare Act 1999 is upheld.
In 2015, the New Zealand Animal Welfare Act 1999 was amended to recognise that animals are sentient. Much like humans, animals have the capacity to experience a range of positive and negative emotional states from pain, fear and distress, to joy, curiosity and comfort. So far, New Zealand’s recognition of sentience has been nothing more than a symbolic gesture.
Rodeos, racecourses, colony cages and farrowing crates are places no sentient being should ever experience. We know animals deserve better, which is why it is crucial for Parliament to appoint a Commissioner for Animals who will ensure animals are protected under the law.
We have Government bodies to represent the voices of children, the environment and the climate – it’s time to protect the rights of New Zealand’s animals.
We need a Parliamentary Commissioner for Animals to undertake an independant extensive review of the current system, to ensure the Animal Welfare Act 1999 is upheld and finally give Aotearoa’s animals a voice.
You can help give all animals a voice by supporting SAFE's call for a Commissioner for Animals. Your gift today means together we can keep the pressure on those failing to uphold the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and put the welfare of animals first.
Together we can make sure 2022 is a year of change for all animals in Aotearoa.
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As a charity, SAFE is reliant on the support of caring people like you to carry out our valuable work. Every gift goes towards providing education, undertaking research and campaigning for the benefit of all animals. SAFE is a registered charity in New Zealand (CC 40428). Contributions of $5 or more are tax-deductible.
SAFE Animal Squad
