Source: MIL-OSI Submissions
Source: SAFE For Animals
SAFE will join protestors around the country on Saturday 30 April 2022, who are rallying together from midday to demonstrate their opposition to live export by sea.
As part of a ‘National Day of Action,’ independently organised protests will be held across multiple locations in Aotearoa including Wellington, Auckland, Dunedin, Christchurch, Whangarei, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Nelson and Tauranga, as well as at Napier, New Plymouth and Timaru, where cows are commonly exported from.
The live export ship Anna Marra is expected to be in Napier Port this weekend. Under its previous name Awassi Express, this ship was implicated in a live export disaster en route to the Middle East in August 2017. Nearly 64,000 sheep suffered from heat stress on the ship, killing 2,400.
Live exports by sea will be banned in Aotearoa from 30 April 2023.
SAFE CEO Debra Ashton, who will be at the Napier protest, said the National Day of Action shows that opposition to the live export of animals is strong and this trade has to end.
“Animals are still suffering in the live export trade, and a total ban can’t come soon enough,” said Ashton.
“Exports of cattle have grown over the past year, during a period when the trade should be winding down.”
The Animal Welfare Amendment Bill, which will give effect to the live export ban, is moving to the second reading in Parliament. The Bill divided Parliament’s Primary Production Select Committee, with National and Act members opposing a total ban.
“Members’ on both sides of the house need to understand that this is a high risk trade. The voyage is dangerous, and we cannot ensure the welfare conditions for these animals on the ship or after they arrive at their destination.
“We’re glad that a ban is on the horizon, and once implemented it must remain strongly in place.”
SAFE is Aotearoa’s leading animal rights organisation.
We’re creating a future that ensures the rights of animals are respected. Our core work empowers society to make kinder choices for ourselves, animals and our planet.
Protest locations:
Whangarei, 12pm at Cameron Street Mall
Auckland, 12pm at Aotea Square
Hamilton, 5pm at Garden Place/Civic Square
Tauranga, 12pm at Grey Space, Maunganui Road
New Plymouth, 12pm at Puke Ariki Landing
Napier, 12pm outside the Port
Palmerston North, 12pm in front of the Plaza
Wellington, 12pm at 86 Cuba Street, near Specsavers
Nelson, 12pm at Christ Church Cathedral
Christchurch, 1:30pm at the Bridge of Remembrance
Timaru, 12pm at Corner of Strathallan & Strafford Streets
Dunedin, 12pm at the Lower Octagon
– TVNZ’s ‘Sunday’ programme revealed widespread suffering on one voyage of the Yangtze Harmony, which left New Plymouth on 19 August 2020. “By day three, the bedding was gone, meaning the cattle had to stand for a prolonged period, up to 14 days. Up to 80 cattle got their heads stuck under pen railings. There were broken legs, infections, significant numbers of lame cattle, on an overstocked boat on rough seas. All contributed to 49 mortalities on board, and another 14 deaths during the cattle’s first month in China.”
– ’Sunday’ also revealed that post-voyage reports noted serious welfare issues such as overcrowding and animals dying of trampling and suffocation. There was a shocking report of a peak ‘abortion storm,’ with 13 cases noted. Veterinarian and animal welfare expert Dr John Hellstrom stated, “Animals don’t start aborting for stress-related reasons until they’re pretty stressed.”
– The Government began a review of the live export trade in June 2019. This was after SAFE raised concerns about the treatment of New Zealand cows in Sri Lanka, which was subsequently reported on by ABC News.
– In 2020, SAFE broke the news that the live export ship Gulf Livestock 1 had capsized and sunk off the coast of China. The tragedy saw 5,867 New Zealand cows drown, and 41 crew members, including two New Zealanders, were lost at sea.
– Recent analysis from The Guardian has found that live export ships are twice as likely to be lost at sea as cargo vessels.
– In 2003, Saudi Arabia rejected a shipment of over 57,000 Australian and New Zealand sheep on board the MV Cormo Express on alleged disease grounds and refused to unload them. After two months at sea and the ship being unable to find a port, around 6,000 of the sheep died on board. Following this disaster, the New Zealand Government suspended the export of live sheep for slaughter. In 2007, a conditional prohibition on the export of livestock (cattle, sheep, deer and goats) for slaughter was introduced.
– Under the Animal Welfare (Export of Livestock for Slaughter) Regulations 2016, live animals cannot be exported for slaughter without the approval of the Director-General of the Ministry for Primary Industries. Approval may only be granted if the Director-General considers that the risks to New Zealand’s trade reputation can be adequately managed. There have been no livestock exports for slaughter since 2008.
– Animals exported for breeding purposes and their young will still eventually be slaughtered, potentially by methods that would not be legal in New Zealand.
