Virtual fence probe

The decision will be in the Government's court once hearings and submissions are completed by the Parliament's petitions committee and a recommendation presented to the House of Representatives.

Over the past few weeks, stakeholders have been presenting to the committee following a petition from Golden Bay farmer Tim Rhodes calling for an inquiry into virtual fencing and its impact on animal welfare.

Federated Farmers opposes the petition, but SPCA is throwing its support behind it. Halter, which is marketing the technology, said in its submission that the system had safeguards in place to protect animal welfare, such as an automatic deactivation feature if cows failed to respond to cues.

Rhodes claims that the public need to be actively engaged with the good and the bad stories of virtual fencing.