Protect Animals, Preserve Reputation
We Demand an Investigation
Mud farming, also known as intensive winter grazing, is a brutal practice where animals are forced to live in overcrowded, knee-deep mud. They sleep, eat, and even give birth in contaminated, cold, and wet conditions. This cruel method violates the Animal Welfare Act and must be stopped.
Not only does mud farming cause immense suffering for animals, but it also devastates our environment. The polluted runoff from these farms flows into our waterways, destroying fragile ecosystems and endangering wildlife. Native species, already at risk, can suffer as their habitats are contaminated with waste and sediment.
Recently, shocking footage from Southland captured the heartbreaking reality of this practice, showing lambs and their mothers trapped in mud, suffering and dying.
The Animal Justice Party is calling for immediate government intervention to ensure enforcement of our animal welfare laws.
Help us take a stand—send our templated letter to government ministers and the Southland mayor!
I write today with deep sorrow and frustration following the recent footage captured on September 8th in Southland, revealing lambs and their mothers trapped and suffering in knee-deep mud. This heart-wrenching display of cruelty is nothing short of a national disgrace.
While the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has since visited the farm and pledged to investigate, it is disheartening that it took such exposure for any action to be taken. This situation highlights a critical gap in the system, emphasising the urgent need for proactive and effective oversight.
The footage clearly breaches sections of the Animal Welfare Act, which requires animals to have proper and sufficient food, water, and shelter and to be protected from unnecessary pain or distress. The footage shows preventable suffering and death, in violation of this law. Additionally, the Code of Welfare for Sheep mandates conditions to prevent this extreme suffering. We must confront the pressing question: how have we got to this point?
The Animal Justice Party calls for:
- Immediate and thorough investigation: While MPI has committed to investigating, this case requires strong oversight from the government to ensure accountability and reinforce legal protections. Scrutiny must be applied not only to the specific farm but also to the enforcement of welfare laws.
- Establishment of an Independent Animal Commissioner: This tragic situation shows the urgent need for a dedicated Commissioner for Animals to provide proactive oversight and ensure that animal welfare laws are effectively enforced before such cruelty occurs.
I remind the government that the welfare of animals is a reflection of our society’s moral standing. It is not enough to have laws on paper; they must be actively enforced. We must ensure that our actions as a nation do not lead to the suffering and death of innocent animals.
I ask that the government take immediate action to address this issue, ensuring that the suffering of these lambs and their mothers was not in vain.
Nāku iti noa, nā