SAFE is appalled by the associate minister for Animal Welfare Andrew Hoggard’s announcement that the Government plans to continue to allow mother pigs to be confined in farrowing crates and mating stalls, arguing that no reduction of time spent in these cage systems justifies their use.
The Government proposes to limit the confinement of mother pigs in farrowing crates to a maximum of seven days, down from the current 33 days. It also proposes restricting the use of mating stalls to three hours at a time, followed by a three-hour break before a sow can be returned to the stall – a process that can be repeated as often as the farmer chooses, instead of allowing continuous confinement for seven days.
The announcement comes five years after SAFE and the New Zealand Animal Law Association took the Government to the High Court over the use of these systems.
In 2020, the Court held that the approach the Government had used to regulate the use of farrowing crates and mating stalls was unlawful. That decision led to substantive efforts by the then Labour-led Government to eventually phase out their use.
SAFE CEO Debra Ashton says this announcement is a betrayal of those positive changes and the mother pigs it was meant to protect.
“This was an opportunity to show that this government takes animal welfare seriously. Instead, of recognising that confining a mother pig in a cage for any amount of time is unjust, the Government has chosen to allow an inhumane and unlawful practice to continue.” says Ashton
“Allowing confinement for any number of days undermines the Court’s ruling and the intent of the Animal Welfare Act. This is a deeply disappointing result that shows Government remains captive to industry influence.”
NZALA President Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere said the decision was “a significant disappointment that undermines the real progress made on ending the use of farrowing crates and mating stalls proposed in 2023; progress that has since stalled for the last two years.”
SAFE says the announcement on how the government plan to deliver these changes is vague and will wait for more information before deciding on next steps. In the meantime, SAFE remains firm in its position that no cage system for any amount of time is acceptable, and will continue to advocate for the freedom of pigs in New Zealand.
“It is difficult to believe the Minister has chosen to allow the continued confinement of mother pigs in cruel cages. We know New Zealander’s will not accept this and SAFE won’t let it go unchallenged.” says Ashton.