Kiwi Music Stars Unite to Support #BeCrueltyFree’s Call for Cosmetics Animal Testing Ban

WELLINGTON (13 March 2015) — A host of Kiwi music stars are lining up to add their voice to the #BeCrueltyFree New Zealand campaign for a ban on cruel and outdated animal testing for cosmetics such as mascara and shampoo. Singer and Maori activist Tiki Taane, singer Flip Grater, electronic artist, MC and songwriter MC Tali, soul/dub singer and songwriter Rosadub, and Wellington band Brockaflower, are supporting #BeCrueltyFree in urging politicians to amend the Animal Welfare Act to make it illegal in New Zealand to test cosmetics on live animals. Parliament is expected to vote very soon.

MC Tali and Flip Grater donated selfie photos in the #BeCrueltyFree tshirt, and Tiki Taane sported the #BeCrueltyFree tshirt at the recent Homegrown festival in Wellington.

MC Tali said: "I believe that all animals deserve the right to a life free from the pain and cruelty which cosmetics animal testing creates."

Flip Grater said: “It's hard to believe that in the 21st century it's still legal in any country to cause animals pain and suffering for lipstick and blusher. It's a barbaric, old-world practice and as a young country New Zealand has a responsibility to lead the way in compassionate, humane law making."

Tiki Taane said: “Enough is enough! Ban cosmetics testing on animals in New Zealand so that we can all #BeCrueltyFree!"

Photos of the stars can be downloaded below.

The #BeCrueltyFree campaign’s compassionate call out has gathered an unprecedented level of celebrity endorsement, with The Almighty Johnsons actress Michelle Langstone, Shortland Street actor Sam Bunkall, singer Anna Coddington, netball champion Irene van Dyke, and legendary Queen guitarist Brian May, having also giving it their backing. Together, they’re representing the voice of the people, as opinion polls show that 89.2 percent of Kiwis want a cosmetics animal testing ban.

New Zealand has no law preventing animals being used for testing cosmetics now or in the future. It remains legal for them to have chemicals dripped in their eyes, spread on their skin, or force fed to them in massive doses. The Government claims that such testing doesn’t take place in NZ’s labs, however there is no available evidence to support that assertion, and without a ban there is little in practice to prevent ethics committees from approving cosmetics testing if they choose to do so.

Kiwis can urge politicians to support a cosmetics animal testing ban by sending them an e-card.

PHOTO DOWNLOADS:

Flip Grater

MC Tali

RosaDub

Tiki Taane

Brockaflower

Anna Coddington

Brian May

ENDS

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