Four sheep shearers have been charged with animal welfare violations following a Ministry for Primary Industries investigation into alleged breaches of New Zealand's Animal Welfare Act. The charges stem from evidence gathered during PETA Asia-Pacific's investigations into more than 30 wool operations in New Zealand—including 11 that are ZQ-certified, exposing the unreliability of that certification scheme.

MPI has laid a total of 21 charges against the four shearers, with court appearances scheduled throughout the country in April and May. The charges came after PETA Asia-Pacific supplied more than 230 video files and other evidence in December 2024, documenting pervasive cruelty to sheep by shearers. MPI has issued a warrant to arrest one of the four charged individuals.

PETA Asia-Pacific praises the government for acting but points out that the charges represent only a fraction of the abuse documented. As long as anyone wears wool, sheep treated as commodities will continue to endure physical and mental torment. PETA Asia-Pacific further notes that the charges do not adequately account for the psychological trauma that was plainly visible in thousands of sheep during the investigations, as PETA would like individuals to be held accountable for inflicting mental suffering as well as physical harm on vulnerable animals.

Video footage from PETA Asia-Pacific's investigations reveals shearers beating, kicking, and throwing terrified sheep down chutes and slamming them into hard floors; workers cutting holes in lambs' ears and burning and cutting their tails off with a hot iron; workers crudely stitching up gaping wounds without painkillers; and the bodies of dead sheep scattered around the properties. Workers were seen tackling and hitting sheep with blunt objects and standing on the frightened animals' necks.

The following is a statement from PETA Asia-Pacific President Jason Baker:

"These charges are precedent-setting but represent only a fraction of the abuse rampant in the massive wool industry, where workers treat terrified sheep like punching bags. PETA's investigations encompass only 34 New Zealand facilities out of thousands, so it's sobering to imagine the suffering that has not been caught on camera.

"Personal responsibility remains the only safeguard against cruelty. Wool industry workers are strongly encouraged to blow the whistle on their places of work, and meanwhile, the public must accept that wool means sheep will suffer and ultimately be slaughtered for a garment and that choosing not to buy it is the fastest and most effective way to run this sickening industry into the ground.

"Furthermore, as not one supervisor or worker at the facilities visited by PETA's investigators intervened to stop any abuse of sheep whatsoever, we are requesting that all shearing sheds promptly start live-streaming operations."

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