Labour's commitment to end factory farming a victory for animals.

Farmwatch is pleased that Trevor Mallard has announced that Labour intends to end factory farming by 2017. This is the first time that the Labour Party have publicly announced an end date for all factory farming in New Zealand. Labour's support for an end to factory farming comes after shocking footage of conditions on pig farms was exposed by Farmwatch. This footage showed deliberate cruelty towards animals at one farm, and animals suffering in disgusting conditions at three other farms.

Farmwatch spokesperson John Darroch says "The announcement by Trevor Mallard that Labour wants all factory farming gone by 2017 is a major step forward for animals in New Zealand. Clearly Labour has listened to the public outrage resulting from the footage our group has obtained. We now have a broad consensus that factory farming needs end by 2017. This election voters will have the power to bring about an end to all factory farming within three years. It is my hope that this is the election that brings about an end to these cruel industries.

"We are disappointed that National has not agreed to any end date for factory farming. In fact, National has announced they will introduce a new form of factory farmed egg production known as colony cages in 2022. We are calling on National to follow Labour's lead and agree to end the pork and poultry industry's systematic cruelty. It is important that National sets an end date for factory farming, so that these animals are not suffering indefinitely in the kinds of conditions we have discovered.

“With this announcement, Labour has moved the discussion in New Zealand forward significantly. We are no longer discussing how cruel factory farming is; now we are talking about when it will end for good.

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