April 14, 2023

 

New Zealand's last live cattle ship to depart as ban is enforced       

 

New Zealand's last live cattle ship to set to depart for China, as the country's ban on shipping live animals by sea is enforced at the end of April 2023, RNZ reported.

 

New Zealand has been exporting cattle to China for years in order to increase its breeding stock, but the government announced in 2021 that live sea exports would be prohibited following a review of the practise.

 

The industry was given a two-year transition period, with the ban taking effect at the end of April 2023.

 

The last shipment is scheduled to leave Napier next week, with approval to transport 5600 cattle to China.

 

Mark Willis, chief executive of Live Export New Zealand, said it was a sad end to an industry that had worked to an incredibly high standard of animal welfare.

 

He said animal welfare standards have now surpassed international best practises, adding that Live Export New Zealand has collaborated with the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) to create a superior set of standards to ensure that animals receive the best possible care during export.

 

Willis said that the ban had left many without work.

 

He said a lot of businesses are just winding down, and some are heading to Australia to work because the trade still exists there, while others have simply found other employment.

 

Despite the ban, there was some hope that it may be reversed, Willis said.

 

-      RNZ