Removing ban 'a step backwards'
Animal rights organization, SAFE says the government needs to maintain the ban on live exports.
Dirty tricks played on the farming sector by an animal rights lobby could cost the group its charitable status.
SAFE has criticised the dairy industry via its highly publicised campaigns targeting mistreatment of bobby calves.
Last year, it published a scathing ad in UK newspaper The Guardian, describing the "shocking treatment" of calves in the New Zealand dairy industry.
In response, outraged farmers described the campaign as "emotional scaremongering" and said it was an attempt to undermine NZ's economy.
A petition started by Gore dairy farmer Bridget Lowry has reached nearly 11,000 signatures, calling for SAFE's charitable status to be revoked.
The petition has been presented to the Department of Internal Affairs and is being treated as a formal complaint, which could lead to its status being reviewed. A spokeswoman said the department had requested information from SAFE about its current activities.
Lowry said she was sick of SAFE's "slander against dairy farmers", which she said unfairly portrayed them as cruel.
She claims the lobby did not use funds to educate the public, as required to maintain its charitable status, she said.
SAFE's most recent financial reports show virtually all its funding -- just over $1 million – comes from donations. If its charitable status was revoked, it would have to pay tax on its donations.
SAFE executive director Hans Kriek says the claims were unfounded and he was not worried about losing charitable status.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has informed staff it will cut 391 jobs following a consultation period.
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