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SPCA supports a ‘One Welfare’ approach which recognises the interconnectedness of animal welfare, human wellbeing, and the environment.

SPCA advocates for the use of the ‘Five Domains’ model of animal welfare in science and legislation in preference to the ‘Five Freedoms’.

​SPCA supports the use of appropriate companion animals in human assistance programmes provided they are trained using reward-based methods and assessed as suitable for participation in the programme and that their physical, health, and behavioural needs are met for the whole of their life.

SPCA advocates that rabbits must only be kept as companions when a person has the knowledge, ability, and means to provide them with a Good Life where they experience positive welfare and their physical, health, and behavioural needs are met.

SPCA supports the call for an independent Commissioner for Animals to ensure effective oversight of the animal welfare system.

Rainbow Lorikeets are very inquisitive and active birds. They are native to Australasia and have a lifespan of approximately 10 years.

Indian ring-necked parakeets are very intelligent, social and active birds. They are natives of Africa and India and can live up to 30 years! Most males will have a black line around their neck, which is where they get their name.

Budgies, or Budgerigars, are colourful parakeets native to Australia. They are inquisitive and very social little birds that can live for around 8-12 years. If trained, some budgies can even mimic human speech!

The terms ‘animal welfare’ and ‘animal rights’ are often used interchangeably. But they’re actually two different things. Read more about SPCA’s view of what we have in common and what our differences are here.

In New Zealand, animals are used for research, testing, and teaching (RTT) for a variety of reasons. Animals may be used in experiments to find new health treatments for humans or other animals, to better understand wildlife behaviour such as migration routes, to test the safety of a new drug, or to facilitate learning outcomes for students.