The Green Party is claiming a win for animals, following the Luxon Government's confirmation that they have cancelled plans to reinstate the live export of animals at sea.
Plans to resume the trade in live animals by sea was part of the National and Act coalition agreement, however the frequently endorsed intention has been scrapped at cabinet, according to Animal Welfare Minister Andrew Hoggard, who said “we needed to get everyone on board to take it forward and haven’t achieved that.”
“The Greens have long opposed this fundamentally cruel trade.” Says Steve Abel, Green Party spokesperson for Animal Welfare.
“Animals are herded into miserable cattle ships where they are forced to wallow in their own waste for weeks at sea.”
“Exported animals also face disease, heat stress, bruising, motion sickness, and other conditions that cause fear, anxiety, and discomfort for weeks or even months.”
“New Zealanders don’t want to see animals suffering. The plans to reinstate this cruel trade cut against the grain of our values as a nation,” says Abel.
“It’s clear that reality has caught up with the Luxon Coalition. They’ve realised there is no magical ‘gold standard’ for live animal exports. The practice is fundamentally cruel, despite industry spin.”
“The decision to cancel the animal export plans is a great win for animal welfare advocates and the majority of New Zealanders, including many farmers, who opposed the cruel trade.”
With the ban on the live exports of animals at sea saved, the Greens would extend the ban to include the live export of animals by air, such as chicks, and the export of native wild-caught animals such as endangered longfin eels.
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