Friday, 10 January 2025 12:07

PETA wants web cams in shearing sheds

Written by  Staff Reporters
PETA claims the introduction of webcams and livestreaming to shearing sheds would help farm owners hold shearers accountable. PETA claims the introduction of webcams and livestreaming to shearing sheds would help farm owners hold shearers accountable.

Animal rights protest group PETA is calling for Agriculture Minister Todd McClay to introduce legislation which would make it mandatory to have live-streaming web cameras in all New Zealand shearing shed.

It follows the release of footage released last week which PETA claims to show shearers on a Lake Hawea farm leased by former American TV show host Matt Lauer kicking and beating sheep.

The organisation claims the farm is part of the New Zealand Merino Company’s (NZM) ZQ Programme. In a statement to media, NZM denied this.

NZM has also announced intentions to investigate PETA’s claims, urging the organisation to provide details about filming locations and the timing of the recordings.

PETA claims the introduction of webcams and livestreaming to shearing sheds would help farm owners hold shearers accountable.

“PETA is calling on the New Zealand government to mandate web cameras inside all of the country's shearing sheds to hold the farms accountable since the industry seems incapable of doing so itself,” says PETA senior vice president Jason Baker.

In a letter to Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Baker argues that the practice is essential for both transparency and accountability, claiming that real-time monitoring would discourage any abusive practices.

“To demonstrate true transparency and accountability, we call on the government to mandate live-streaming web cameras in all shearing sheds, including ZQ-certified farms across the country,” he says.

“The public has the right to know whether meaningful action is being taken,” he concludes.

More like this

Ahuwhenua Trophy finalists announced

Farms from Northland and northern Hawke's Bay are the finalists in this year's Ahuwhenua Trophy competition for the top Māori sheep and beef farms.

Bracing for US tariffs

This year won't be an easy one for the red meat sector, says Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva.

Top Maori farms named

Maori farms from Northland and Northern Hawkes Bay are the finalists in this year’s prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy competition  for the top Maori sheep and beef farm.

Featured

Pāmu farm opens gate to urban visitors

For many urban New Zealanders, stepping into Pāmu’s Pinta dairy farm near Taupo last month was the first time they had had the chance to experience farm life up close.

National

Machinery & Products

Alpego eyes electric power harrow

Distributed by OriginAg in New Zealand, Italian manufacturer Alpego recently showed its three metre Alysium electric power harrow at the…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Dodgy!

OPINION: If you believe Maori Party president John Tamihere’s claim that “nothing dodgy” occurred at Manurewa Marae during the last…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter