5 October 2011

Greens Lead the Way against Colony Cages

If the nation’s three million caged hens could vote, the Greens and Act’s John Banks would be ruling the roost come this year’s election, says leading animal advocacy organisation SAFE.

Outgoing animal welfare spokesperson and Green MP Sue Kedgley, announced yesterday that her party will pledge against cruel colony cage systems and Act Party candidate, John Banks, also says he will pledge his personal support to help caged hens.

Ms Kedgley’s announcement makes the Green Party the first political party to oppose colony cages. SAFE says other parties are likely to follow given the level of public support on this issue. Two recent public opinion polls reveal between 75 - 80 per cent of New Zealanders oppose keeping hens in cages.

“We are inviting all political parties to pledge their opposition to cruel cage systems used in egg production. We are particularly interested to hear from the National and Labour parties given they have the majority of public support, yet they still don’t have an animal welfare policy,” says SAFE director Mr. Kriek.

The Minister of Agriculture, David Carter, is expected to approve colony cages as the alternative system to the existing battery hen cages early next year. In an open letter published in the Dominion Post yesterday, Mr. Kriek urged the Minister to move away from caged systems entirely.

“The Minister is responsible for the welfare of millions of caged hens and Mr. Carter should do the right thing for New Zealand and the hens by phasing out all cages,” said Mr. Kriek. “Mr. Carter supported the ban on sow stalls based on animal welfare grounds and we believe he must do the same here. Colony cages are just another form of battery cage,” said Mr. Kriek.

Mr. Kriek said that far from being a leader in animal welfare, New Zealand is behind international developments and risks further decades lost if farmers are stuck with another cruel system. “Caged systems are not good for hens, consumers, farmers or New Zealand as a whole.”

During a press conference in Wellington yesterday organised by SAFE and the RNZSPCA, Green Party MP Ms Kedgley said she was convinced that the government does not want animal welfare to become an election issue.

"I believe the government is deliberately holding back an announcement that they will replace battery hen cages with equally cruel colony cages until after the election," said Ms Kedgley.

SAFE welcomes Act Party candidate John Banks, for pledging his support towards SAFE and the RNZSPCA’s unified position against colony cages.

“I am glad that SAFE and the SPCA are joining forces to make a public statement against any possible allowance of “enriched” colony cages in the new code of welfare for layer hens. Although I cannot be with you, I support you,” says Mr. Banks.

“Mr. Banks is not the lone voice within the political arena against cruel cage systems. There are many other MPs and candidates who have expressed their support on this issues and SAFE will be pushing for caged hens to be on the agenda during the election,” says Mr. Kriek.

ENDS

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