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Tuesday 22 January, 2013

Gareth Morgan Speaks Exclusively to ‘Campbell Live' About His Controversial Anti-Cat Campaign

Economist and philanthropist Gareth Morgan has called for a fundamental shift in the way New Zealanders look at the issue of cat ownership, launching website www.garethsworld.com/catstogo.

Speaking exclusively on Campbell Live, Morgan said: “My request of every cat owner in New Zealand is to make this cat your last.”

Describing the ‘slaughter’ caused by domestic cats given free rein in native bush reserves, Morgan said cats may appear “cute and cuddly” but “they just love killing things - and that’s your cat we’re talking about.”

He called for local authorities to treat cat ownership in a similar way to dogs, with micro-chipping and owner registration.

“Your cat does a lot of damage, so if you want to love him, fine. But keep him in your house. If you let him onto my property, I want to have to right to trap that cat and get rid of it., because I would rather have the skinks, the geckos, the lizards, the birds anytime over your cat.”

Morgan’s controversial campaign drew support but also criticism, notably from the SPCA. Participants in a Campbell Live text poll voted 40% in favour of Morgan’s proposal, 60% against.

To watch the full interview, visit www.3News.co.nz/CampbellLive

Join the debate at www.facebook.com/CampbellLiveNZ

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>