It’s time to empty the cages

All animals deserve a life worth living, and hens are no exception. Confining hens in colony cages is not only cruel but is also completely unnecessary.

Hens are intelligent, curious and socially complex birds, and like all animals, they have natural behavioural needs. In an outdoor environment, a hen will spend her days scratching at the earth, searching for food, dust bathing, stretching her wings and basking in the sun. Over 1.2 million hens are confined in colony cages in Aotearoa. These cages directly breach the Animal Welfare Act 1999 which requires that the physical, health and behavioural needs of animals be met. The overcrowded conditions of colony cages prevent hens from displaying normal patterns of behaviour and living a life free of unnecessary pain.

Over 250 New Zealand Veterinary Professionals call for a ban on caging hens

On October 18 2021, SAFE published an open letter in the Dominion Post to the Minister of Agriculture, Hon Damien O'Connor, calling for a ban on colony cages. Over 250 New Zealand Veterinary Professionals have signed the letter, confirming to the Minister that colony cages do not meet the welfare needs of hens and are in breach of the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
The Act requires that animals have the opportunity to display normal patterns of behaviour. In natural conditions, a hen will spend most of her day foraging for food, dustbathing, basking in the sun and exploring her natural environment. This is impossible for hens trapped in colony cages. Veterinary Professionals are supporting SAFE in urging the Government to uphold the Act and free hens from cages.

View the open letter here

Take action for hens

Sign our petition calling for a ban on cages in New Zealand

Your actions can make a huge difference for the millions of hens living in cramped, unnatural conditions on intensive farms. Take action now to free hens from cages in New Zealand.

Sign the petition!

Hen cruelty exposed. Again.

In May 2021, a whistleblower who wishes to remain anonymous, has revealed to SAFE the horrific conditions that hens are living in at the colony cage farm ‘Northern Eggs’ in Whangarei.

The informant claimed that farm managers ignored multiple reports of animal suffering. SAFE alerted the Ministry for Primary Industries to investigate immediately. This is the second time Northern Eggs has been scrutinised for animal cruelty. In December 2019, Newshub revealed footage showing dead hens in various stages of decomposition, as well as countless hens who were severely de-feathered and living among their dead cage mates. On both occasions, MPI has found ‘no evidence of animal cruelty’.

Time and time again, we are seeing hen cruelty on colony cage farms. The only way to ensure hens are no longer subjected to these unacceptable and deplorable conditions is to ban colony cage farming in New Zealand for good.

Time for change

We are seeing incredible change for hens across New Zealand. Three quarters (76%) of Kiwis polled want to see hens freed from cages. Supermarkets, foodservice groups, café outlets and restaurant chains across the country are committed to phasing out the use of cage eggs.

Around the world, hens are being spared from a lifetime in cages by progressive politicians. Cages are banned or being phased out in parts of Europe, including Switzerland, Luxembourg, Germany, Denmark, Slovakia, Austria, the Czech Republic and the Walloon Region of Belgium. In the USA, nine states have already banned the sale and production of cage eggs.

New Zealand’s leaders know Kiwis care about hens. In 2014 and 2017, the Labour Party promised to ban colony cages. The Green Party of Aotearoa has also committed to free hens from cages.

New Zealand voters have elected the Labour Party to lead our country for another three years. Now is the time to stand together and demand positive change for hens from our politicians.

Action 2:

Write to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Hon Damien O’Connor and Hon  Meka Whaitiri and demand a ban on colony cages 

History in the making

On the 30th of June 2021, the EU Commission announced its commitment to banning the caging of farmed animals throughout the EU by 2027. This decision will free over 300 million animals from cages.

If the European Union can free 300 million animals in seven years, our leaders can free the 1.2 million hens imprisoned in colony cages in New Zealand.

In 2014 and 2017, the Labour Party said they would finally free hens from cages. Yet today, no action has been taken.

We need to use our voices to hold our leaders to account. Hens are counting on you to free them from cages in Aotearoa for good.

We have prepared a message that you can send to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Hon Damien O’Connor and Hon Meka Whaitiri. If you have time, please write your own personal message or edit the message below. A personal email from you will always have more impact!

This email will be sent directly to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Hon Damien O’Connor and Hon Meka Whaitiri. You will also receive a copy for your record. Emails are public information, if you would like any of your information withheld please write so in your email.

Name*
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My Email*
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Your personal message*
Dear Prime Minister Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, Hon Damien O’Connor and Hon Meka Whaitiri, I am writing to demand that the Labour Government finally ban colony cages for hens. Hens are suffering inside cages on New Zealand egg farms. They cannot carry out basic behaviours essential to their welfare such as being able to move freely, nest and stretch their wings. Colony cages are in breach of the Animal Welfare Act 1999 which states an animal must have the opportunity to display normal patterns of behaviour. On multiple occasions, New Zealand cage-egg farms have been exposed for abhorrent abuse and neglect. There is photographic and video evidence showing hens in cages that are either dying, dead, dismembered or rotting. MPI have refused to take action against these farms and rectify these clear breaches of the law. The only way to ensure compliance with the Animal Welfare Act 1999 is to ban colony cages altogether. Three in four Kiwis oppose colony cage systems. Big businesses have listened to the public and within the next few years, all major supermarkets and thousands of businesses will phase out cage-eggs, leading the way ahead of Government. The Labour Party pledged in 2014 and 2017 to phase out intensive farming practices, yet New Zealand leaders have not taken any meaningful steps towards banning cruel colony cages. With each year that passes, the list of countries banning colony cages grows. In June 2021, the European Union Commission announced its commitment to ban the caging of all farmed animals by 2027. This decision will free over 300 million animals from cages across the EU. If the EU can free 300 million animals in six years, our leaders can free the 1.2 million hens in colony cages in New Zealand. It’s time to catch up to the rest of the world. New Zealand is a nation of animal lovers, yet we still allow hens to suffer in crowded cages on intensive farms. It is a discredit to our country and our reputation that we allow this cruelty. The New Zealand Government has a responsibility to enact policy that delivers on previous commitments and public expectations. I am one of millions of Kiwis who oppose the use of colony cages. This Parliamentary term, you have the opportunity to free hens from cages in Aotearoa and show the world that we stand for kindness. It’s time to deliver the kind of change that Kiwis, like me, voted for. It’s time to end to the suffering of hens in New Zealand.
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Action 3:

Email the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC)

Send a polite email to the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) to ask when they will recommend a ban on colony cages. NAWAC is responsible for providing advice to the Government on matters relating to animal welfare. They make recommendations to the codes of welfare, animal welfare research needs and legislative proposals.

Some key points to include are:

It is the responsibility of the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the codes of welfare, when will NAWAC finally recommend a ban on colony cages in New Zealand?
Colony cages breach the Animal Welfare Act 1999 astray do not allow hens to display normal patterns of behaviour.
Over 250 New Zealand veterinary professionals signed SAFE’s open letter calling on the Minister of Agriculture to ban colony cages.
Hens in colony cages only space have the size of an A4 piece of paper in which to live out their lives. They cannot carry out basic behaviours that are essential to their welfare such as walking freely, stretching their wings, and nesting.
With up to 80 hens in each cage, they must compete to access resources. This is a highly stressful living environment. Hens are no better off in colony cages than they were in battery cages.
Governments around the world are banning these cruel cages. New Zealand is falling behind international industry standards.

This email will be sent directly to the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee. You will also receive a copy for your record. Emails are public information, if you would like any of your information withheld please write so in your email.

SAFE's open letter calling on the Minister of Agriculture to ban the caging of hens

A cage is a cage

Colony cages have been approved as the new caged system to replace soon-to-be illegal battery cages. In essence, colony cages are just larger versions of battery cages that are capable of housing many more hens. Colony cages still breach New Zealand’s Animal Welfare Act 1999 as they do not allow hens to express their natural behaviour.

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Your actions can make a huge difference for the millions of hens living life in cramped, unnatural conditions on intensive farms. Whether you have an evening to spare or just five minutes, sign up and speak out for hens in New Zealand.

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