The Animal Justice Party (AJP) is calling on the Government to mandate camera surveillance and AI-supported monitoring in shearing sheds, saying the industry’s response of welfare training after recent allegations of widespread animal cruelty, is a start but simply not enough.

The call follows a major investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific, which AJP supported, documenting alleged abuse across many shearing sheds including ZQ-certified wool facilities. Footage showed sheep being kicked, beaten with implements, subjected to painful procedures without pain relief, and left to die from untreated injuries. The investigation spans multiple facilities, shearing teams, and more than a year of operations. (See footage here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DUar7nsKe/)

“The industry response to this investigation has been to announce more training,” said AJP General Secretary Danette Wereta. “What the footage shows is not accidental harm or poor technique. It shows deliberate violence, repeated across different farms and contractors.”

Wereta said the scale and consistency of the alleged abuse demonstrates a systemic failure of oversight, not isolated incidents.

The AJP says camera surveillance and modern AI monitoring systems are already well established internationally and should be standard in New Zealand. In Australia, certified abattoirs are required to operate video surveillance from animal arrival through to slaughter under industry welfare schemes. These systems are increasingly enhanced with artificial intelligence that analyses footage in real time to detect signs of stress or mishandling, such as slipping, abnormal posture or excessive agitation.

“These are not theoretical systems,” Wereta said. “They are proven tools already protecting animals and supporting compliance in facilities across the Tasman.”

Australia’s wool industry is also moving toward the introduction of cameras in shearing sheds, following repeated animal welfare exposés. Industry leaders there have acknowledged that transparency strengthens public confidence and protects both animals and workers.

By contrast, Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard has dismissed camera surveillance as intrusive, citing privacy and connectivity concerns. Wereta said those arguments no longer hold.

“Australian processors have demonstrated that privacy concerns can be managed and connectivity challenges overcome,” she said. “When our closest neighbour is leading the way in accountability, New Zealand’s refusal to even explore these measures shows we are falling behind animal welfare standards we once claimed to champion.”

The AJP argues that cameras and AI monitoring would also improve supply chain transparency for brands marketing New Zealand wool as ethical. “Consumers and international brands are being asked to trust systems that clearly failed,” Wereta said.
ZQ is promoted as a gold-standard animal welfare certification, yet serious alleged abuse still occurred within ZQ-certified facilities supplying brands such as Icebreaker, Allbirds, Mons Royale, Rodd & Gunn and popular New Zealand babywear brand Nature Baby. This exposes the limits of certification alone.

The Animal Justice Party is calling for immediate action, including mandatory camera surveillance in shearing sheds and slaughter facilities, independent audits, and strong enforcement under the Animal Welfare Act.

About the Animal Justice Party Aotearoa NZ

AJP was registered in August 2023.

AJP is a political party dedicated to advocating for the rights, welfare, and protection of animals. Their mission is to create a society where animals are treated with respect, compassion, and consideration. Through active participation in the political landscape, they aim to drive policy changes that reflect their commitment to a more ethical and sustainable future.

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