New Zealand’s live export rules are set for a shake-up under the coalition government. Ben McQueen explains what animals we’re still exporting overseas and what changes are expected for the industry.
Live export has been at the centre of controversy for decades.
The previous Labour government introduced world-first reform to largely ban live exports. Now, the coalition government looks set to bring the practice back.
What is live export?
Internationally, live export is known as the practice of transporting live animals, by sea or air, to overseas markets, usually for the purpose of farming, breeding, or slaughtering.
Typically, it is livestock that is exported, including cattle, sheep, deer, and goats.
The point of contention around live exports is to do with export by sea, which can pose significantly more risk to the welfare of the transported animals.
Which animals does NZ currently export and where?
Last year, New Zealand exported more than three million day-old chicks to 20 different countries, including China, Bangladesh, Fiji, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines, according to Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) statistics.
New Zealand also exported more than 30,000 live bees and bee larvae to Canada, usually transported in packages containing a few thousand bees and a queen.
In 2023, almost 4000 goats were exported to China, Japan, and Korea, but the majority of those were before Labour’s ban came into effect in April.
Likewise, in the four months before Labour’s ban last year, New Zealand exported almost 30,000 cattle to China. In 2022, more than 150,000 cattle were exported to China.
New Zealand also exported 200 sheep last year to Japan, Korea, the UK, Peru, and other countries.
There were some more miscellaneous exports too, including 14 alpacas and llamas to the UK, 200 birds to Taiwan, Japan, and Australia, and more than 2000 horses to Australia, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and other countries.
Since Labour’s ban on live export by sea, livestock is largely no longer exported as transport by air is much more difficult.
What exactly did Labour’s ban change?
The Labour government revised the Animal Welfare Act 1999 to ban the export of livestock (cattle, deer, sheep, and goats) by sea.
Previously, livestock was able to be exported by sea, if there was an accompanying Animal Welfare Export Certificate (AWEC).
Labour’s reform came in the wake of the 2020 sinking of the Gulf Livestock 1 in a typhoon, in which 41 crew members and 6000 cattle were killed.
Then-Associate Minister of Agriculture Meka Whaitiri said during the bill’s first reading: “The Government, like some in the farming sector, believes the livestock trade opens New Zealand and its farmers to long-term reputational damage, no matter how high we set animal welfare standards for voyages.
“Livestock exports by sea have increased in recent years, but they amount to approximately 0.2% of our primary exports revenue since 2015.”
The main concerns were to do with the welfare of the animals, both during transport, and once they arrived at their destination country where welfare standards could be different, as well as the potential damage the industry could do to New Zealand’s ”clean, green” international image.
Opposition to the ban came from the National and Act parties, as well as livestock farmers, who defended the trade due to the revenue it generated for the economy – around $300 million in 2022.
Labour’s revision to the act provided a transition period of two years to allow farmers and other stakeholders in the industry to adapt to the changes.
From April 30, 2023, livestock including cattle, sheep, deer, and goats were officially banned from being exported by sea.
What are the coalition government’s plans?
The coalition government has committed to reinstating livestock exports by sea with strengthened welfare standards, Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard says.
“Live exports will only commence once strengthened welfare standards are developed and in effect to protect New Zealand’s reputation as a responsible exporter,” he said.
Public consultation on the proposed reform will start before September and will seek feedback on what changes are necessary to the Animal Welfare Act, how to better protect the welfare of animals throughout the export process, as well as how to safeguard New Zealand’s reputation.
“I understand animal welfare is a top priority for all Kiwis,” Hoggard said.
“It’s vital, and in fact non-negotiable, that the new standards are in place before the trade is restarted. Hearing a range of voices will help us to understand how we can best achieve this.
“I encourage people to make submissions to make sure all views are taken into account during the policy development process.”