The Government is promising greater transparency around live animal exports when the controversial trade resumes, but critics say the practice is inevitably cruel.
The previous government formally banned live exports in April last year following the sinking of the Gulf Livestock 1 which sunk off the coast of Japan in 2020, killing 41 crew members and almost 6000 cattle.
The coalition Government is currently working on reinstating the practice, promising purpose-built ships and a certification regime for importers.
Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard said live exports had been a “good industry” in the last few years.
“In the last few years, $300 million in export sales of livestock that were exported by sea. That’s a valuable industry.”
When asked if it was humane, Hoggard said he believed the Government “can do it humanely”.
“One thing I think that’s definitely needed is more transparency around the voyages so people can be assured that welfare is being upkept, they can see for themselves the state animals are getting in.”
Former live export vet Lynn Simpson became a whistleblower on the industry after experiencing the conditions aboard the ships.
“It’s hot, it’s steamy, you’re working in a deep layer of faeces all the time. The cattle are wearing a deep layer of faeces.”
Retired vet John Hellstrom said resuming live exports would be “condemning these cows to a short and miserable life – far worse than they experienced in New Zealand”.
“These animals don’t have a life worth living. The lucky ones die,” he said.
Emails sent to National MPs, obtained by 1News under the Official Information Act, show opposition to the return of live exports – even from the party’s own supporters.
“My family voted National at the last election but we are disgusted that you are attempting to reverse the ban on exporting live souls,” said one email to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Another to Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said they were a “big supporter” of the party but that they “strongly do not understand why you would want to reinstate this practise”.
Green Party animal welfare spokesperson Steve Abel said the backlash “doesn’t surprise me at all”.
“New Zealanders really don’t want this – we see this across the board,” he said.
Labour resolved to reinstate the ban if it was re-elected.
Details of the new life export standards will be released in the next few months.