Animal welfare strategy and legislation review

In December 2010, the Minister of Agriculture asked MAF to start developing a national strategy for New Zealand's animal welfare system and review animal welfare legislation.

While New Zealand's animal welfare system is amongst the best in the world, the boundary between acceptable and unacceptable treatment of animals is always evolving. The strategy will help ensure that New Zealand's animal welfare system can respond to these changing expectations and endure long term.

This strategy development is also an opportunity to strengthen and formalise animal welfare systems already in place; look at the roles and responsibilities of Government and other organisations with animal welfare interests; and develop a shared "NZ Inc" view of animal welfare across all sectors, organisations and people.

Both the public and animal health and welfare organisations – such as vets, animal industry groups, and advocacy groups - will have the opportunity to express their views on the development of the strategy and the Act review.

Recommendations provided to the Government will reflect views gathered during a public consultation phase of the project and an advisory group drawn from a range of key animal welfare organisations has been convened to act as a sounding board for proposals as they are developed.

Draft strategy documents and/or option papers are expected to be released for public consultation in the first half of 2012, before a final strategy and proposal for legislative changes will be presented to the Minister of Agriculture later that year.

Page last updated: 18 October 2011