Bikinis in cowshed
OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content posted on social media and adult entertainment subscription site OnlyFans.
MPI has launched an independent review of the assurances it receives for the safe transport of livestock by sea.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Director-General Ray Smith says Mike Heron QC has been appointed to lead the review, which is expected to take about a month, after the loss of the Gulf Livestock 1 in a maritime tragedy.
Heron will be supported by retired Rear Admiral Tony Parr.
The review will assess the assurances MPI receives when it considers an application for an Animal Welfare Export Certificate (AWEC) – required for exports of live animals – in particular:
• Carriage by sea as a mode of transport, and
• Susceptibility of livestock to harm and distress on the journey when exported by ship.
“The current temporary suspension of cattle livestock exports will remain in place until the review report is completed and considered,” says Smith.
“This is an extremely difficult time for the families of those on the Gulf Livestock 1 and my thoughts are with them.
“At the heart of our decision to temporarily suspend cattle livestock exports is a commitment to helping ensure people and animals on livestock export boats are safe.
“We are working closely with exporters, who have provided assurances that animals currently on pre-export isolation farms are in good condition and well looked after.”
Terms of Reference for the review can be found here.
Maritime New Zealand has also published information here.
According to the most recent Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, farmer confidence has inched higher, reaching its second highest reading in the last decade.
From 1 October, new livestock movement restrictions will be introduced in parts of Central Otago dealing with infected possums spreading bovine TB to livestock.
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.
Award-winning boutique cheese company, Cranky Goat Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.