10/09/2018

Animal advocacy group Direct Animal Action are disappointed with the results of a Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) investigation into a Tegel chicken farm in Helensville.

In July, Direct Animal Action filmed numerous dead, deformed and injured chickens and chickens lying on their backs unable to move at the Tegel farm in Helensville. The group lodged a complaint with MPI.

“MPI have advised us they won’t prosecute Tegel despite our video evidence of the abysmal animal welfare standards we filmed at this particular Tegel farm,” says Deirdre Sims, spokesperson for Direct Animal Action.

“MPI have told us that, instead of a prosecution, they have “educated” the farmer and Tegel about the ill and injured chickens we documented on the farm.”

“We're really disappointed with this. This is not even a slap on the wrist and shows the weakness of our animal welfare regulations and MPI.”

“Companies like Tegel can flout regulations without fear. This is not good enough and something needs to change because MPI have a conflict of interest.”

“We're calling for the Government to create an independent Ministry of Animal Welfare with its own inspectorate body separate to the Ministry for Primary Industries.”

“We're also keeping the pressure on to stop Tegel’s proposed mega factory in Kaipara. There's enough animal suffering on Tegel farms as it is. We don't want them farming an extra 9 million chickens per year.”

“We’ll be protesting alongside Kaipara locals and iwi when the council hearing is held to decide on the mega farm later this year,” says Ms Sims.

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