Minister of MPI misleads public over continued pig abuse.
Farmwatch is concerned that the Minister for Primary Industries is
misleading the public about pig farming in New Zealand.
In response to shocking footage screened by the Sunday show last night
MPI Minister Nathan guy said "I'm disappointed that this information
hasn't gone to MPI straight away. As soon as I became aware of the
property I said to MPI you need to go and inspect the property."
Spokesperson for Farmwatch John Darroch says, “This statement by the
Minster fails to mention that MPI investigated the same farm after our
initial investigation just last year and 6 months later gave it a
clean bill of health[1]. Our investigation in 2013 highlighted
shocking conditions and substandard care of animals and we are
disappointed that a year later the pigs are living in the same
horrendous conditions. “
Instead of showing genuine concern and taking real action the Minister
is obfuscating by blaming SAFE and FarmWatch; He’s even tried to
distance himself from his own Ministry with comments to the Sunday
Program like “That’s a thing that MPI will have to answer for
themselves – I’m the minister.”
John Darroch says “The minister cannot avoid responsibility for the
conditions on this farm and his attempts to blame our organisation for
not informing his Ministry are childish.
“The pigs on this farm have been living in these conditions for the
past year. It is ridiculous for Nathan Guy to suggest that we should
trust the Ministry to manage this farm when they have clearly failed
to take any real action until now.
“In the year between our visits these animals were living in the exact
same pens in the same sheds. Clearly no significant changes to the
farm were made despite MPI’s involvement. It is naïve to suggest that
we should trust the Ministry to intervene when they have
“The public cannot trust the Minister when it comes to animal welfare
issues. Instead of holding the industry to account, the Minister is
attempting to portray this as an isolated incident which will be
remedied. We believe that the reason this issue has not been addressed
is because this is no rogue farm. These are types of conditions which
our organisation has found right around the country. ”
[1] OIA response detailing MPI’s involvement in the farm:
A statement from New Zealand pork highlighting MPI’s involvement can
be viewed at: http://www.farmwatch.org.nz/uploads/1/8/2/8/18284057/farmwatch_-_facts_and_fictions.pdf
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