SPCA, alongside 18 other international and national animal advocacy organisations, has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, urging him to halt the Government’s plans to repeal New Zealand’s world-leading ban on live animal exports. The letter highlights the overwhelming public opposition to the repeal, as well as the significant animal welfare concerns associated with live export.

The coalition of organisations, representing millions of voices globally, argues that animals are subjected to unacceptable risks during prolonged journeys, including heat stress, injury, chronic hunger, disease and death. The letter emphasises that New Zealand’s ban on live export, implemented in 2023, demonstrated global leadership in animal welfare. Repealing the ban would not only risk the welfare of tens of thousands of animals but also puts at risk the lives of human crew and damages New Zealand’s reputation.

The letter calls on the Government to listen to the voices of New Zealanders who overwhelmingly support the ban, and to uphold the high animal welfare standards that our country is known for. The coalition urges the Government to retain the ban - for the animals, for farmers and for a more humane and sustainable global community.

UPDATE: To date we have received no response from the Prime Minister. Minister Hoggard sent this letter in response.

The government delays public consultation on reintroducing the abhorrent live export trade. Minister Hoggard has announced the public discussion document, originally promised before September 2024, is delayed to an unspecified date in 2025.

In November, PM Chris Luxon refused to answer questions about when public consultation could be expected or even confirm public consultation would go ahead! Cabinet has agreed to draft and introduce an Animal Welfare Amendment Bill to the house next year in 2025.

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The science is unequivocal – cattle suffer during live export. There are multiple factors that impact upon the welfare of exported animals before, during and after the ship voyage; these include the conditions on the ship and the lack of control over their treatment at the destination country, as well as numerous changes in environment that the animals are forced to undergo over several weeks or months that can cause fear and anxiety. Research lists the major stressors on ship as exposure to clinical diseases, heat stress, high stocking density and high ammonia levels, and other stressors such as noise, motion sickness, changes in lighting patterns and novel environments.

The long-distance transportation of livestock overseas cannot be justified due to the multiple significant harms that animals are exposed to throughout the duration of the export. It is generally accepted that the longer and more complex the journey an animal makes, the greater the risk to its welfare.

SPCA has been advocating for a ban on all live export of farmed animals for decades. See key milestones below.

2024 - National-led Government announces plans to repeal New Zealand's world-leading ban

• January The National-led Government and live export industry lobbyists pledge to repeal the ban on live export, claiming the industry's undefined and unenforceable 'Gold Standard' could mitigate the welfare harms inherent to the live export trade
• February A survey commissioned by SPCA revealed that New Zealanders do not want the ban on live export repealed
• March petition to protect the ban on live exports launched
• June Petition closes with over 57,000 signatures
• August Petition presented to the Select Committee
• September Public consultation was due to open...but no updates from the Minister
• November A new survey commissioned by SPCA shows continuous public opposition to live export

2023 - Ban on live export of farmed animals by sea comes into force

From April 30 2023, the ban on the live export of cattle, sheep, goats and deer came into force, ending decades of suffering caused by long sea journeys.

2022 - Bill to ban the live export of farmed animals by sea passes

In September 2022, the Bill to ban the live export of farmed animals by sea via an amendment to the Animal Welfare Act 1999 was passed.

2021 - Ban on live export of farmed animals by sea for breeding announced

In 2021, the Government announced a ban on live export of farmed animals by sea for slaughter or breeding, thereby making New Zealand the first country in the world to ban this practice.

2021 - SPCA writes to all Government Ministers urging for a ban

In March 2021, SPCA wrote directly to all Government Ministers to push for a complete ban on live export. Auckland Council, Cornwall Park Trust and all associated Councillors, CEO’s, Mayors and relevant Ministers were also directly contacted earlier this month in relation to plans to export cattle from Cornwall Park. Thanks to the outcry, these cattle were not exported.

2020 - Reviews of live export

Alongside a multitude of meetings on the issue, New Zealand’s largest animal welfare charity submitted to the Government on this issue multiple times, including in January 2020 as part of the review of live export from New Zealand and in September 2020 as part of the Heron review commissioned after the Gulf Livestock tragedy.

2007 - Ban on live export of farmed animals by sea for slaughter

In 2007, we celebrated this huge win for animal welfare, however a loophole still allowed for farmed animals to be exported for breeding purposes.

1985 - Live export trade resumes

In 1985 the live export trade started up again. SPCA continued to actively advocate for a total ban on the live export of farmed animals for slaughter or breeding purposes.