SPCA is celebrating confirmation from Minister Andrew
Hoggard that plans to reinstate live animal exports will not
progress this term. This makes any future revival of the
trade increasingly unlikely.
SPCA’s Chief Scientific
Officer, Dr Arnja Dale, says the idea of a “gold
standard” or “highest standards of animal welfare,” as
promised by National and ACT, was never achievable for this
industry. She says the science is unequivocal that
transporting livestock by sea over long distances is
inherently linked with major animal welfare
compromise.
“We have been waiting for the
announcement for two years; there has been delay after
delay. It’s obvious to every New Zealander who cares about
animals that bringing back livestock exports was
indefensible,” says Dr Dale.
“This result was
inevitable. Tens-of-thousands of New Zealanders made their
voices heard, and any attempt to restart live export faces
overwhelming opposition. Today’s confirmation simply
aligns policy with public expectations and compassion for
animals. New Zealanders have shown that animal welfare
cannot be sidelined for narrow economic
gain.”
“Attempts to repeal New Zealand’s world
leading ban on live export have been consigned to the
history books.”
More than 57,000 people signed a
petition in 2024 calling for the ban to be protected, and
thousands more submitted, wrote to their local MPs, or
voiced publicly to keep this issue firmly in the national
spotlight.
Surveys commissioned by SPCA show only 17
per cent of kiwis support resuming live export, and just 12
per cent trust the industry. Even among farmers, most back
the ban. The ban was introduced to prevent the suffering of
animals transported on long sea journeys and concerns New
Zealand cannot guarantee how animals are treated once they
leave the country.
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Repealing it would have risked the
welfare of hundreds of thousands of animals for only a small
economic gain.
As New Zealand heads towards the
November election, SPCA will continue campaigning to ensure
live export is not restarted in future. The organisation
says this development reflects the overwhelming public
opposition to bringing the trade back.
SPCA is
thanking every person and group who took action to protect
the ban, noting that this outcome would not have been
possible without their support.
“This is a win for
animals, for the general public, and for New Zealand’s
international reputation, we couldn’t have done this
without you,” says Dr
Dale.
