Today, Green Party MP Steve Abel has added a new Member’s Bill to the biscuit tin to ensure any product sold in New Zealand meets New Zealand’s animal welfare standards, even if it’s produced overseas.

The Government has taken a giant step backwards by reinstating live animal exports. 

The Green Party is concerned with reports that the Racing Minister is kicking decisions on the future of greyhound racing until after the election.

Aotearoa will finally bring an end to the live export by sea of cattle, deer, sheep and goats.

“The Government’s decision to cave into agribusiness and delay the implementation of critical regulations on intensive winter grazing is a bad outcome for rivers and animal welfare”, Green Party Environment spokesperson Eugenie Sage said today.

Animals are worthy of care and respect, but current rules allow animal abuse and exploitation. Aotearoa could easily have a world-leading animal welfare system, but many animals are mistreated and subject to cruelty. The Green Party has championed animal welfare for decades, as the leading voice in Parliament on issues like factory farming, greyhound racing, and cage-free hens and eggs. Meanwhile, other parties have backed down on promises to ban rodeos and cruel production practices like farrowing crates.  The Green Party will strengthen Aotearoa’s animal welfare standards. We will outlaw harmful...

The Green Party will align regulation with animals’ rights to good nutrition, environment, health, behaviour, and mental state, and provide strong oversight and accountability. We will minimise the systemic exploitation of animals and require an ethical and humane approach to managing animals. We will carefully balance the needs of indigenous species and introduced animals, and uphold the Kaitiaki role and whakapapa connections of Māori to animals.  Vision All animals are respected and their rights are upheld. Values and Principles Aroha:...

The Green Party is deeply concerned by Japan’s resumption of commercial whaling, Green Party Animal Welfare Spokesperson Gareth Hughes said today. “This is a sad day for whales and a real blow to international efforts to protect these magnificent creatures. “I am very disappointed by Japan’s decision to pull out of the International Whaling Commission after the International Court of Justice ruled their previous whaling program was not for scientific purposes. “Commercial hunting pushed whales to the brink of extinction...

The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor to review New Zealand’s live animal exports rules. “New Zealand’s live animal export laws are in serious need of an update to protect animal welfare and our agricultural brand,” Green Party Animal Welfare spokesperson Gareth Hughes said today. “New Zealand exports tens of thousands of live animals for breeding purposes every year and these animals can face appalling treatment when they arrive in the importing country.” “The...