Aotearoa's world leading ban on farmed animal export by sea is under threat!
This ban has now come under a very real threat with the National-led coalition government promising to repeal it.
We've teamed up with Dr John Hellström and other animal welfare advocates to #protecttheban. After a successful petition handover and expert veterinary panel events, we are now gearing up to respond to the Government's impending public consultation on the repeal of the ban on livestock exports.
Recent News
Expert Veterinary Panel
In June, alongside VAWA and VALE (Veterinarians Against Live Exports (Australia), the New Zealand Labour Party and Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand co-sponsored an expert veterinary panel event in Parliament.
Clink on an image below to watch sections of the event, or you can use the button below to watch the full presentation.
It was excellent to have Philip J Lymbery (President - Eurogroup for Animals and Global CEO - Compassion in World Farming) open the event with a powerful presentation on the 'United Kingdom & European Perspectives: Moving in the right direction.'
Veteran export veterinarian, Dr. Lynn Simpson, gave a confronting presentation on the reality of what a sea voyage is really like for the animals.
Follow the event on Facebook to see more from the expert vet panel and stay up to date with developments on the National-led government's consultation on repealing the ban, as well as information on how to make a submission to help us #ProtectTheBan on farmed animal export by sea.
What can you do to #protecttheban?
Join the over 57,000 New Zealanders who signed John's petition - they agree that we must #protecttheban.
John, VAWA, and a collection of other animal welfare organisations are all advocating strongly to the National-led coalition government to retain the ban, and supporting the opposition to fight the repeal.
Keen to get involved?
While we wait for consultation to open, get stuck in and share this far and wide with friends, family and all and sundry.
Why was the ban put in place?
The world-leading ban (effective 1st May 2023) was a significant win for animals in Aotearoa New Zealand. It was extraordinarily wonderful because it was a decision that was wholeheartedly driven by doing what is right for our animals and our animal welfare credentials. Finally, a decision that was not controlled by vested interests and economic gain for a few!
More Information
VAWA's STOP PRESS! webpage
WAP's 'Rollback on Live Export Ban in NZ Puts Animals and Reputation in Jeopardy'
In the media
Officials worked on live export despite ban - Newsroom (26 August 2024)
'Damien O’Connor, who was minister for agriculture at the time, tells Newsroom he would never have signed off on the work, and was not told by officials it was being done. “Obviously, if I had knowledge of that, I would not have endorsed it, given that the trade was about to finish.”
NZ sailing back in time with live exports - Otago Daily Times (17 April 2024)
'Concentrating the issue down to voyage welfare remediation — through a cattle class standard, developed and driven by a limited number of live export beneficiaries, including veterinarians, and despite the government’s direction, Ministry for Primary Industries (aka, use of taxpayers’ money) — is subterfuge.'
“It’s choosing to serve the needs of a small number of people who make money out of an industry that is otherwise nonsensical,” says Beattie. “I’m seeing a complete and utter lack of strategy around what’s good for our people, our animals, our economy, and our long term survival.”
'In fact, it’s remarkable how tone deaf the ‘bring back live export to NZ’ message has been as MV Bahijah and the Al Kuwait live-export scandals have lit up global headlines.'
Join VAWA and help us protect our animals from this heinous practice. Our animals need your support!
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