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New poll reveals universal opposition to cages

New Zealanders are as united in their support of the All Blacks as they are opposed to battery cages. A comprehensive opinion poll, released today by animal advocacy group SAFE, reveals a consensus across all sectors of the population that battery hen cages should be banned, with 85 per cent of New Zealanders wanting the government to phase out cages within five years.

The nationwide survey, by Horizon Research, recently polled respondents to gauge public attitude towards the current use of battery cages, and the proposed colony cages. The survey reveals that 79 per cent of the respondents feel battery cages are cruel. Of those who buy eggs for their household at the supermarket or local market, more than 82 per cent believe they are cruel.

The survey also sheds light on whether opinions differ according to political party allegiances and whether people think the government should phase out all caged systems.

³The majority of voters for all main political parties want the government to phase out battery cages. When asked whether animal welfare laws should prohibit cages, 70 per cent of the respondents said they should. When told the government is considering phasing out battery cages and asked if they agreed with this, 81 per cent said they did,² says SAFE campaign director Eliot Pryor.

The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) is likely to recommend phasing out battery cages over twenty years. However 54 per cent of those polled said they wanted battery cages phased out within two years. 24 per cent wanted it in less than a year and 85 per cent thought it should happen within five years.

The proposal to allow colony cages as a replacement is also unpopular, with nearly two-thirds of New Zealanders either opposed, neutral or requiring more information about colony cages to make an informed decision.

³We ask the Minister of Agriculture, David Carter, whether he has confidence in the review process, given these results. The acceptance of the colony cage system would be against the wishes of the New Zealand public,² says Mr Pryor.

The poll shows 82 per cent of New Zealanders prefer to buy eggs from free range sources as opposed to buying barn eggs (61%) or caged (5.6%). ³If the egg industry was doing its job it would be working to meet consumer preferences and producing eggs from free ranging hens,² says Mr Pryor.

³This poll clearly demonstrates that colony cages should not be accepted as the proposed Œhumane alternative¹, given they are no more than better-designed battery cages that still cause suffering for hens.²

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