A veterinarian has described the "appalling" conditions experienced by animals onboard live export ships as a petition to uphold New Zealand's ban on exports by sea heads to Parliament.
In April 2023, the previous Labour government announced a ban on live exports by sea. The coalition Government planned to reverse this ban.
A petition with 47,500 signatures will be handed to Parliament calling for New Zealand's ban on the export of farmed animals by sea to be upheld.
Former live export veterinarian Dr Lynn Simpson had worked on the ships for more than 11 years, and told Breakfast it was "like working on a multi-storey car park" with cattle packed onto every level.
"It's really crowded with the cattle. It's noisy, it's stinky, its basically a job where half your day is taken up working on how deep the faeces is… metaphorically and literally."
She described it as an "unnatural environment" and the "start of a really short and miserable life for cows".
In May, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay told Q&A that officials would be implementing "very high standards" to ensure animals were well cared for.
He said new standards would prevent a repeat of the Gulf Livestock 1 ship disaster, when 6000 cattle and 41 crew died in 2020 aboard a ship carrying cattle from New Zealand to China. Two New Zealanders were among those to lose their lives.
If the standards - developed in consultation with welfare groups - were not met, animals would not leave the country, McClay said.
Simpson argued "you can't have a gold standard" for a cruel trade.
"Strict rules are great and you can have as much legislation as you like… but is there really any point of having legislation for a cruel trade? Do you want to be part of that?"
She said there were "really basic, inherent risks" every time the ship sets sail that could see all the animals aboard perish.
"If you lose power in rough weather... you can lose steering and you won't be able to control the ship and you can capsize and be lost.
"But more mundanely, if you lose enough power for your ventilation, within about three hours most — if not all — of the animals will be dead."
Simpson said there was "no price to pay for welfare".
"The welfare on these ships is quite appalling. And I think if farmers really cared for their animals, they would not be happy to sit and watch the condition these animals endure on the voyage."
Benefit of trade 'not insignificant'
Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard said in a statement the direct economic benefit of the trade was valued at $374 million in 2022 which he described as "not insignificant".
"The trade provides farmers another revenue source during difficult financial periods or when weather conditions mean grass production is lower.
"As well as providing additional revenue source, exported livestock gains premium prices compared to domestic livestock sales."
He said indirect economic benefits would include demand for services in rural communities to support the trade.
"The review will include wide consultation and input from a range of interested stakeholders and the public to ensure that high animal welfare standards are in place before the trade could resume," Hoggard said.
A 1News poll in October found support for a continued bank on live animal exports.
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