Latest news with #AnimalWelfareAct1999
Scoop
04-07-2025
- Scoop
Slaughterhouse Horror: Bobby Calves Found Bleeding Out On Cold Concrete Floor
As calving season begins across New Zealand, the Animal Justice Party (AJP) is calling for urgent action after receiving graphic and deeply disturbing footage from an anonymous source. The footage, which can be seen here [ , shows bobby calves suffering agonising deaths inside a North Island slaughterhouse. In the video five baby calves can be seen writhing, lashing, and gasping in large pools of their own blood, sprawled across a cold concrete floor. As their legs kick desperately, the suffering is unmistakable. Their lives are ending in what can only be described as a state of panic and unbearable pain. While AJP cannot reveal the exact location due to confidentiality concerns, it confirms the source has been deemed credible and the footage authentic. Danette Wereta, General Secretary of the Animal Justice Party, says the footage is haunting. 'This footage will keep me awake at night,' she said. 'But I still encourage everyone to watch it. These baby calves deserve to be seen. We need to face the horror that underpins dairy, because this is not an anomaly. It is the system.' AJP understands the calves shown were condemned on arrival to the slaughterhouse and as a consequence were killed separately from the thousands of others slaughtered at this facility that day. The reason for their condemnation is unknown, however, common reasons include:too weak to move or walk by themselves, underweight or poor condition, dehydration, infections or injuries. Under the Animal Welfare Act 1999, animals must be handled, transported, and killed in a way that minimises unnecessary pain and distress. AJP believes what is revealed in the footage breaches these basic legal protections and will call on MPI to launch an immediate investigation. Cows are forcibly impregnated annually to make milk. Each year, over 1.8 million bobby calves, mostly males deemed surplus to the dairy industry, are taken from their mothers within 24 hours of birth. Calves can legally be transported for up to 12 hours once they are just four days old. Exhausted, scared, hungry, and alone, many arrive at slaughter facilities already weak - some do not survive the journey. 'This is the cost of milk and cheese,' says Wereta. 'Consumers are told New Zealand dairy is clean and kind with clever marketing. But behind the curtain are discarded babies, bleeding out on concrete floors.' The Animal Justice Party is urging the public to demand transparency, reject cruelty, and consider the lives hidden behind every glass of milk. Wereta adds 'I cannot imagine anyone watching this footage and not feeling upset or horrified. The only good news is that we all have the power to stop it. Yes, an investigation is needed, but this will keep happening. The industry is built on cruelty. We can stop it simply by no longer consuming dairy. And with so many health benefits to plant-based alternatives, there is no better time to make the change.'
Scoop
25-06-2025
- General
- Scoop
Feral Cats On The Predator Free 2050 List? Why It's Dangerous And Unethical
New Zealanders have just days to stop feral cats from being officially labelled a ' predator for eradication' in the Predator Free 2050 strategy. Public submissions close 5pm Monday, 30th June 2025. The proposal to list feral cats as a target for eradication by 2050 is a serious threat to animal welfare and public values, and it is being advanced without a genuine national conversation or broad public engagement. Feral cats certainly pose a risk to sensitive New Zealand ecosystems, but inclusion on the PF2050 list promotes a fanatical, eradication-at-all-costs mentality that is neither humane nor scientifically sound. Here's why Flora and Fauna of Aotearoa opposes the move to add cats to the list, and why we need you to speak up. Feral cats come from us – not the wild Feral cats are not a distinct species. They originate from lost, abandoned, or unneutered pet cats. With 40% of New Zealand households sharing their homes with at least one cat (1), there is a continual flow of domestic cats into the stray and feral population. This is a human-made issue. Trying to 'eradicate' feral cats while ignoring the source is like bailing out a boat without fixing the leak. The answer lies in responsible pet ownership: desexing, microchipping, and preventing abandonment. A national strategy is needed at the source of the problem. Eradication is not only impossible – it is inhumane PF2050 is an eradication framework that seeks to eradicate certain predator species by 2050. Including feral cats in this list would invite cruelty under the guise of conservation. We already see horrific experimentation, abuse and hate towards cats and other 'pest animals' in New Zealand, and this step will make things worse. The infamous 'possum punch' that was videoed and shared on social media (2) and the kitten from Beach Haven who had its 'tail ripped off' and a threatening note sent to its owner stating 'Ur cats are dead,' (3) show the kind of abuse these animals can be subject to. Another example is the highly questionable use of 1080-poisoned rat carcasses to indirectly kill cats on Rakiura, Stewart Island, by The Department of Conservation (4). These secondary poisoning methods cause prolonged sickness and painful deaths in violation of the Animal Welfare Act 1999 (sec. 12 (c)) (5). This is not humane pest control – it is state-sanctioned animal cruelty. What is secondary poisoning? Secondary poisoning happens when an animal eats another animal that has already ingested poison – for example, a cat consuming a poisoned rat. In DOC ' s current operations, this is not accidental – it is intentional. The method causes prolonged suffering, as poisons like 1080 can take hours or days to kill. It is indiscriminate, inhumane, and deeply unethical, especially when aimed at sentient animals like cats. A threat to your pets – and social licence Adding feral cats to the list will make them fair game for anyone with a trap. The Predator Free vision includes 'everyone from professionals to school children'. That means cats – feral or not – are at risk from amateurs targeting stray or pet cats and using poorly set, infrequently checked traps. The reality is, many people do not draw a clear distinction between feral, stray and pet cats and are not responsible or compassionate enough to carry out work that should be done by professionals. We are already seeing it happen. Reported in Paerata Rise, south of Auckland in 2024, 20 cats went missing in a single year. Residents suspect feral cat trapping is the cause. One stray, adopted by a dementia patient, was found hanging from a trap. Local SPCA data showed at least 12 pet cats were caught and released by the same programme. Others were never seen again. (6) Pet cats have been commonly targeted by neighbourhood self-proclaimed 'cat haters' and comments sections online are frequently littered with comments like 'the only good cat is a dead cat' and other hate directed at cats. This is not 'predator control' – it is the destruction of people's family members and emotional support animals. No safeguards, no accountability Unlike stoats or rats, cats are emotionally significant animals to many New Zealanders. Yet, no mechanisms have been proposed to prevent pet or stray cats from becoming collateral damage if feral cats are listed. Calls for trappers to check for microchips or photograph their catch have been ridiculed by Predator Free advocates. In one response, a community trapper dismissed suggestions to use microchip scanners as 'ridiculous' – stating it is impossible to scan a panicked animal in a trap. (7) Yet SPCA policy clearly advocates for humane treatment, desexing, and scanning stray animals to reunite them with owners. There are no enforcement tools or accountability measures to prevent backyard trapping from turning lethal. Feral cats do affect wildlife – but they also control pests We do not deny that feral cats pose a threat in ecologically sensitive areas. In some places, targeted control is necessary – and it is already happening. But the story is more complex. Feral cats also prey on rabbits, rats, mice, and even stoats. If feral cats were to be removed from areas where they are actually managing other pest species adequately, we risk triggering a 'mesopredator release–' which means allowing smaller pests like rats, mice, and stoats to surge. This can result in native wildlife losing predatorawareness over time. (8) Research shows that when predators are removed, prey species often fail to recognise threats. (9) This reduces the resilience and natural instincts of our native species, making them even more vulnerable. Taking a holistic, sustainable approach means caring for the environment in a way that honours balance, relationship, and long-term responsibility – it requires taking the whole picture into account. Rather than chasing eradication as an ideological goal, a holistic approach guides us to seek thoughtful, humane, and ecologically grounded solutions that respect all life, including animals caught in the margins of human impact. Management works. It just needs support. Feral cats are highly adaptive and widespread, and with a huge population of domestic and stray cats, eradication is simply not achievable across mainland New Zealand. What is achievable, though, is significantly improved management – and this is exactly what welfare groups and many others working in animal management have been asking for. What we need is not a new predator listing, but proper investment in feral cat management. Humane strategies already exist. They include: Desexing and microchipping to reduce stray populations at the source. Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programmes for strays, which have proven effective in areas.(10) Professionally-led control in ecologically sensitive zones. National education campaigns around responsible pet ownership. Targeted funding for programmes, councils and community groups already doing the work. Cats are woven into our homes, hearts, and culture Cats have lived alongside humans for thousands of years. In Aotearoa today, more than 1.26 million cats live in people's homes. They provide companionship, emotional support, and pest control. Companion Animals NZ notes that 68% of people acquire cats for love and affection.(11) The backlash to Gareth Morgan's infamous 2013 call to eliminate domestic cats (12) proved just how deeply this country cares about its cats. The SPCA and other animal welfare advocates have made their position clear: while feral cat populations may need to be controlled, eradication through inhumane or indiscriminate methods is unacceptable.(13) Eradication is not ethical. It is not practical. And it is not the New Zealand way. See the Flora and Fauna of Aotearoa website to read our full recommendations and answer to the DOC's consultation questions. Flora and Fauna website: References and Links: Link to the online submission form. Questions 15 and 16 (at the very end) relate to feral cats. Read more about the strategy review. 1 'Companion animals in New Zealand: NZ pet data report 2024', 2 'Animal cruelty or pest control? Video shows possum being punched in the face', 3 'Beach Haven community rally around mother after kitten's tail 'ripped off' and threatening note left', 4 'Planned Rakiura 1080 drop criticised', 5 Animal Welfare Act 1999, 6 'The trapper, the developer and the case of Paerata's missing pets', 7 'The trapper, the developer and the case of Paerata's missing pets', 8 'The rise of the mesopredator', 9 'Predicting predator recognition in a changing world', 10 'Assessment of a targeted Trap-Neuter-Return pilot study in Auckland, New Zealand', 11 'Companion animals in New Zealand: NZ pet data report 2024', 12 'The cat menace',
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
SAFE: Proposed Welfare Code Betrays Animals And The Law
Press Release – SAFE For Animals The animal rights organisation says the code legitimises inherently harmful practices – including mud farming, feedlots, and painful procedures like castration and tail docking without pain relief – while continuing to allow animals to suffer without … SAFE is demanding that the Ministry for Primary Industries' proposed Code of Welfare for Sheep and Beef Cattle be scrapped, calling it a legal shield for cruelty that fails to meet even the most basic obligations under the Animal Welfare Act 1999. The animal rights organisation says the code legitimises inherently harmful practices – including mud farming, feedlots, and painful procedures like castration and tail docking without pain relief – while continuing to allow animals to suffer without access to shelter. 'If this code is accepted in its current form, it would effectively become a manual for animal cruelty,' says SAFE CEO Debra Ashton. SAFE warns that the code is not an isolated failure, but a symptom of a broken regulatory system that routinely favours industry convenience over animals' needs, experiences, and rights. 'We've engaged in good faith for years, but this draft proves the system can't be trusted. It's time to draw a line,' says Ashton. The organisation has written to NAWAC Chair Dr Matthew Stone, MPI Director of Animal Health and Welfare Carolyn Guy, Minister for Agriculture Todd McClay, and Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard, urging them to abandon the draft and take urgent action to address these systemic failures. 'It's a betrayal of our welfare law and the animals it's meant to protect.' SAFE's full statement reads: Proposed Code of Welfare Entrenches Cruelty and Undermines Animal Welfare Law The proposed Code of Welfare for Sheep and Beef Cattle, currently open for public consultation, represents a profound failure of New Zealand's animal welfare system. Rather than lifting standards or upholding the Animal Welfare Act 1999, this code would entrench practices that cause widespread suffering – including painful procedures without pain relief, intensive confinement in mud farms and feedlots, and a diluted shelter standard that puts animals' lives at risk in extreme weather. SAFE rejects the premise that this code provides meaningful guidance for compliance with the Animal Welfare Act. It does not. Instead, it offers legal cover to inherently harmful farming systems and practices that cause serious and avoidable suffering. For that reason, SAFE will not be participating in the consultation process for a code that attempts to sanitise cruelty. When animals are confined on mud farms, concrete, or barren feedlots, they are stripped of their most basic expressions of life – grazing, playing, resting comfortably, ruminating, and relating to one another. These are not abstract ideals, but the everyday needs of sheep and cattle. Codes of welfare are intended to support our animal welfare legislation — not undermine it. If this code is adopted, it will set a dangerous precedent: where cruelty is legitimised, public expectations are ignored, and the intent of the Animal Welfare Act is effectively nullified. This failure is not isolated. In 2023, the Regulations Review Committee recommended a prompt and substantive review of how secondary legislation under the Animal Welfare Act is developed – and whether existing instruments, particularly codes of welfare, are consistent with the purpose and intent of the Act. Almost two years have passed without action. It must now be prioritised to ensure that regulation genuinely reflects the law and protects the animals it exists to serve. SAFE is calling for the proposed Code of Welfare for Sheep and Beef Cattle to be scrapped. The code must be rewritten in full alignment with the Animal Welfare Act — not shaped to prioritise profit, productivity, or convenience over animals' wellbeing and legal rights. We urge the Government and the public to reject this code and demand a future where animal welfare law is not just symbolic but lived. It's time to build a system that reflects what the Animal Welfare Act already affirms: that animals are not merely commodities to be managed, but sentient beings with needs, feelings, experiences, and intrinsic worth.
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
SAFE: Proposed Welfare Code Betrays Animals And The Law
SAFE is demanding that the Ministry for Primary Industries' proposed Code of Welfare for Sheep and Beef Cattle be scrapped, calling it a legal shield for cruelty that fails to meet even the most basic obligations under the Animal Welfare Act 1999. The animal rights organisation says the code legitimises inherently harmful practices - including mud farming, feedlots, and painful procedures like castration and tail docking without pain relief - while continuing to allow animals to suffer without access to shelter. "If this code is accepted in its current form, it would effectively become a manual for animal cruelty," says SAFE CEO Debra Ashton. SAFE warns that the code is not an isolated failure, but a symptom of a broken regulatory system that routinely favours industry convenience over animals' needs, experiences, and rights. "We've engaged in good faith for years, but this draft proves the system can't be trusted. It's time to draw a line," says Ashton. The organisation has written to NAWAC Chair Dr Matthew Stone, MPI Director of Animal Health and Welfare Carolyn Guy, Minister for Agriculture Todd McClay, and Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard, urging them to abandon the draft and take urgent action to address these systemic failures. "It's a betrayal of our welfare law and the animals it's meant to protect." SAFE's full statement reads: Proposed Code of Welfare Entrenches Cruelty and Undermines Animal Welfare Law The proposed Code of Welfare for Sheep and Beef Cattle, currently open for public consultation, represents a profound failure of New Zealand's animal welfare system. Rather than lifting standards or upholding the Animal Welfare Act 1999, this code would entrench practices that cause widespread suffering - including painful procedures without pain relief, intensive confinement in mud farms and feedlots, and a diluted shelter standard that puts animals' lives at risk in extreme weather. SAFE rejects the premise that this code provides meaningful guidance for compliance with the Animal Welfare Act. It does not. Instead, it offers legal cover to inherently harmful farming systems and practices that cause serious and avoidable suffering. For that reason, SAFE will not be participating in the consultation process for a code that attempts to sanitise cruelty. When animals are confined on mud farms, concrete, or barren feedlots, they are stripped of their most basic expressions of life - grazing, playing, resting comfortably, ruminating, and relating to one another. These are not abstract ideals, but the everyday needs of sheep and cattle. Codes of welfare are intended to support our animal welfare legislation -- not undermine it. If this code is adopted, it will set a dangerous precedent: where cruelty is legitimised, public expectations are ignored, and the intent of the Animal Welfare Act is effectively nullified. This failure is not isolated. In 2023, the Regulations Review Committee recommended a prompt and substantive review of how secondary legislation under the Animal Welfare Act is developed - and whether existing instruments, particularly codes of welfare, are consistent with the purpose and intent of the Act. Almost two years have passed without action. It must now be prioritised to ensure that regulation genuinely reflects the law and protects the animals it exists to serve. SAFE is calling for the proposed Code of Welfare for Sheep and Beef Cattle to be scrapped. The code must be rewritten in full alignment with the Animal Welfare Act -- not shaped to prioritise profit, productivity, or convenience over animals' wellbeing and legal rights. We urge the Government and the public to reject this code and demand a future where animal welfare law is not just symbolic but lived. It's time to build a system that reflects what the Animal Welfare Act already affirms: that animals are not merely commodities to be managed, but sentient beings with needs, feelings, experiences, and intrinsic worth. Notes The Ministry for Primary Industries is accepting public submissions on the Sheep and Beef Cattle Code of Welfare from May 14 - July 15, 2025. In July 2023, following multiple complaints on the integrity of codes of welfare, the Regulations Review Committee recommended a prompt and substantive review of the process for developing secondary legislation under the Animal Welfare Act.
Otago Daily Times
21-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Peacock issue unsolved
It has been my pleasure to come to know a man called Bob Smith. We share a love of birds and I've gone to him for advice on numerous occasions. My grandchildren enjoy visiting the aviary and have been spoilt with a trip out the back to see birds nesting and getting a peacock feather. Bob has looked after the Gore aviary for 27 years. Birds are his passion and he devotes himself to keeping them healthy. He is well respected among the bird community and has a great knowledge of many different species. I've had experience with peacocks running free near Gore. We all like to think of them enjoying their freedom and living their best life. The reality is they are killed on the roads, their young are slaughtered by predators and they struggle for food in the winter months. They can fly over deer fences and upset people by roosting in their sheds and pooping everywhere. Along comes a lady from Invercargill with her little tick sheet. She stands outside the Gore aviary and decides she is not happy with the way the peacocks are housed. She complains to the council and suddenly the peacocks have to go. The council stress that the peacocks will go to a good home, but Bob is just told to get rid of them. They could easily have enlarged the peacock enclosure and had actually measured it out, but choose to do nothing. The vets thought the enclosure should be bigger, but acknowledged the birds were not showing any sign of stress. Bob has had the peacocks for 12 years and the male has known no other life. The cages are kept spotless, the birds are fed greens each day from Bob's own garden and they are well looked after. The council has undermined and completely disrespected a good man who knows far more than they do about looking after birds. REPLY — The Gore District Council has worked closely with Bob over the years, and has greatly valued his support with the aviary. The physical structure of the aviary has changed over the years, with the location of different birds being moved around and enclosure sizes changing. With the peacocks, we have received a number of concerns, raised by various people, over many years and the SPCA became involved in 2024 and highlighted that the peacock enclosure was not big enough for a bird of that size. It was not possible to enlarge the enclosure to a suitable size, due to the constraints created by nearby protected trees, without significant cost, and/or removing other birds housed in the aviary. The SPCA has the authority under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 to enforce minimum standards for the care and treatment of animals, and as such, Gore District Council was required to act. After consulting with a vet, rehoming them was the best option for the peacocks. We explored possibilities for re-homing the peacocks, but ultimately, once it became clear the peacocks could not stay in their enclosure for their own wellbeing, we left the decision on their future home up to Bob, who has looked after them for many years. — Gore District Council parks and recreation manager Keith McRobie
