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
Open Letter to Prime Minister (26 November 2024)
VAWA and other other animal protection organisations from Aotearoa and around the globe, have written to the Prime Minister urging him to retain the ban on livestock exports by sea.
'Dear Prime Minister Luxon,
International animal protection groups unite to urge you to retain the ban on export of farmed animals by sea.
Experience has shown that the suffering associated with long-haul voyages by sea cannot be addressed through regulation or improved standards. No legally robust pathway exists for enforcement of New
Zealand’s law outside its own jurisdiction, the animal welfare issues are cumulative, and risks are inherent to every voyage. The only way to prevent more suffering, and another inevitable livestock export maritime disaster, is for you to retain the ban.'
See VAWA's media responses to the Minister's announcement that was covered by 1News (20 November 2024)
Expert Veterinary Panel (June 2024)
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 fighting 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
Rural Round Up with Andy Thompson - 25 November 2024
'The bottom line is we have not seen any data, or information, or pictures or video footage - anything to indicate this can be done safely for the animals. I also note that the idea about purpose built boats has been walked back... there seems to be a step away from talking about the MPI-Industry standard that was being developed...'
Live animal export repeal: Yet more public outrage is justified - Sunday Star Times; republished by The Post (24 November 2024)
'Like children, and our environment, animals are vulnerable, and they need others to advocate for them. It’s a David v Goliath fight, with charities and volunteers leading the charge for the animals, against the reach, power and money of the industry - an industry that has effectively gagged some animal welfare advocates who can’t risk their livelihoods, and farmers because it’s hard to live in rural communities while biting the hand that feeds.'
Minister promised public consultation on livestock exports. It hasn’t happened - Stuff (22 November 2024)
But Stuff has been unable to find any animal welfare advocates who have been spoken to. Helen Beattie, ... said she was not aware of any welfare advocated being invited to take part in the “specialist consultation”.
The key parties in this space, such as the SPCA, Huha, Safe, VAWA, none of them have been approached,” she said. If they were approached, Beattie said the feedback would be clear. “As people with expertise in animal welfare - and independence from this industry - we have looked at the data, and there is nothing to indicate that we can keep animals safe during the export process,” she said.
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.'
Live Export Lives Again? - Vegan Society (Autumn 20024)
“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.”
Repealing livestock export - a case of 'eyes wide shut' - Agribusiness (March/April 2024)
'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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