News related to Proposed Prohibition of the Use of Electroimmobilisation Devices
- Institute wins award for research that improves welfare of sheep used in animal testing - 20 November 2009
A senior researcher at the University of Auckland's Liggins Institute has been selected as the recipient of the 2009 National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) Three Rs award.
- Feedback sought on draft code of welfare for animal transport in New Zealand - 16 October 2009
Minimum standards of animal welfare and recommended best practices for everyone involved in animal transport in New Zealand are outlined in a draft code of welfare released for consultation by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) today.
- MAF inspections of Crafar farms complete - 9 October 2009
Inspections by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) of all 22 Crafar-owned properties have concluded, MAF Director-General Murray Sherwin announced today.
- Farmer charged with ill-treatment of sheep & cattle - 4 September 2009
A North Canterbury farmer was today fined $17,500 and ordered to pay court and investigation costs totalling $60,130 for allowing his stock to suffer from starvation. John Dalmer (74) pleaded guilty to charges under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
- 2008 National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) Annual Report Released - 30 July 2009
Notification of the numbers of animals used in research, testing and teaching was released today in the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) Annual Report.
- Farmer charged with wilful ill-treatment of cattle - 27 July 2009
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) Enforcement Group welcome the conviction handed out in the Invercargill District Court on Friday to an Invercargill farmer charged with offences under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
- NAWAC Annual Report Released - 23 July 2009
The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) issued its 2008 Annual Report today.
- MAF investigation of piggery concludes - 2 July 2009
An investigation by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) into the operations of a Levin piggery has concluded, with MAF determining no breaches of the current Code of Welfare for Pigs, issued pursuant to section 75 of the Animal Welfare Act.
- Government agencies approve reopening of Zion Wildlife Gardens - 19 June 2009
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) and the Department of Labour have today given Whangarei’s Zion Wildlife Gardens approval to reopen to the public.
- Stock driver’s angry outburst ends in Court. - 11 June 2009
A Waipukarau truck driver pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Hastings District Court today for the ill treatment of a lamb in his care. He was fined $800 and ordered to pay court costs of $130.
- MAF Biosecurity New Zealand and Department of Labour Statement – Zion Wildlife Gardens - 29 May 2009
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) has today enacted powers under the Biosecurity Act 1993 and temporarily closed the Zion Wildlife Gardens near Whangarei to the public in the wake of this week's death of a keeper at the park.
- Expanded international collaborating centre focusing on animal welfare - 29 May 2009
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) congratulates the Massey University Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, the AgResearch Animal Behaviour and Welfare Research Centre and their Australian partners on being recognised as an expanded World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Collaborating Centre.
- Investigation of pig farm - 20 May 2009
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) Animal Welfare Inspectors today visited the pig farm at the centre of TVNZ's "Sunday" programme. They were accompanied by an independent veterinarian and pig expert.
- Farmer charged with wilful ill-treatment of deer - 6 May 2009
Yesterday a Central Hawkes Bay farmer was sentenced in the Hastings District Court for failing to maintain the welfare needs of his deer. He was fined $12,000, ordered to pay $9,181 in costs, and disqualified from owning or controlling production animals for a minimum period of 10 years. Permanent name suppression has been granted to the farmer.
- Research to support review of layer hen welfare code - 4 May 2009
A comprehensive science-based assessment of the welfare of egg producing hens in commercial production systems in New Zealand has been released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) today.
- Couple charged for ill treatment of eight dogs - 5 February 2009
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Animal Welfare Investigation Team are pleased with the convictions handed out in the Whangarei District Court on Tuesday to a couple jointly charged with four offences under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
- MAF seeks views on animal export certificate guidelines - 17 December 2008
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) is seeking submissions from interested parties on proposed guidelines for the issue of animal welfare export certificates.
- Feedback sought on draft code of welfare for sheep & beef cattle - 31 October 2008
Minimum standards of animal welfare and recommended best practices for anyone responsible for sheep and beef cattle are outlined in a new draft code of welfare to be released for consultation by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) tomorrow.
- Repeat offenders prosecuted by MAF - 22 October 2008
A Dannevirke father and son, Ian and David Livingstone, have been convicted of offences laid by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) Enforcement Group relating to the starvation of sheep in their care. These convictions come within a year of being convicted of the ill treatment of dogs in their care.
- Disbudding and dehorning hurts – get it right! - 22 September 2008
Calves should be disbudded early and with proper pain relief, is the message from the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) and the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC).
- One Farmer, three farms, 445 sheep euthanased - 12 August 2008
Mr Dempster had sheep on three separate properties, “Willowbrook”, “Thornhill” and “Hillhead”.
- Farmer charged with wilful ill-treatment of cattle - 23 July 2008
North Wellsford farmer Keith Thomas pleaded guilty to 5 charges under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 earlier in March this year for allowing stock in his care to suffer from malnutrition. Mr Thomas was convicted and sentenced yesterday in the Warkworth District Court. He was ordered to pay $53 000 in costs and an enforcement order was made for supervision of his farming operation for two years.
- 2007 National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) Annual Report Released - 15 July 2008
The National Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) Annual Report was released today. A significant feature of NAEAC's work in 2007 was the review of a number of the codes of ethical conduct that govern the use of animals in research, testing and teaching.
- Laboratory receives award for seafood toxin test that provides an alternative to animal testing - 1 July 2008
Four members of AgResearch’s Biomembrane Laboratory have been selected as the recipients of the 2008 National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) Three Rs Award.
- Deer Agent fined for illegal develveting - 29 May 2008
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) welcomes todays conviction's of Noel Cudby in the Wellington District Court for the de-velveting of deer without adequate pain relief and the required approvals.
- Review finds stocking densities in broiler sheds on a par with world best practice - 26 May 2008
The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) has completed a review into the minimum standard that relates to maximum stocking densities in the 2003 Broiler Code of Welfare and has concluded that a change to the minimum standard is not required at this time. This conclusion is based in part on New Zealand research that found that the welfare of broiler chickens in New Zealand was on a par with world best practice.
- Farmer oblivious to pain and suffering of dehorned cattle - 15 April 2008
A Marlborough farmer was sentenced today and must pay a fine of $6500, and was ordered to pay investigation and court costs of $715.60 in the Blenheim District Court for the illegal dehorning of his cattle.
- Dairy Farmer obstructs MAF inspector - 7 April 2008
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) Animal Welfare Investigation Team welcomed the conviction handed down in the Palmerston North District Court last week for the obstruction and hindering of an animal welfare inspector whilst performing his duties.
- Farmer continues to neglect cattle - 26 March 2008
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Animal Welfare Investigation Team are pleased with the conviction in the Christchurch District Court last week to a farmer for the wilful ill-treatment of animals.
- Farmer ignores ban and lets his cows starve - 19 November 2007
A Whangarei farmer banned from owning bovine animals for two years was today sentenced to 400 hours community service and ordered to pay $20,000 costs for contravening a 2005 Court Order issued for three previous offences relating to starving cows. His wife was convicted and discharged after pleading guilty to failing to attend to the physical and welfare needs of Cattle.