Majority support for banning shipment of livestock by sea

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

ALMOST 70 percent of voters in this week's Gisborne Herald web poll voted “yes” to the question: “Do you agree with the Government's move to ban the exporting of livestock by sea?”

The main reason for the 69.3 percent (228 votes) who voted “yes” was because they felt it was cruel to animals.

Of the 26.14 percent of voters (86 votes) who did not agree with the Government's move, one respondent said: “Ill-informed assumptions are not proof of maltreatment. Many countries ship stock this way, without this feeble whinging and whining.”

Just under 5 percent (4.56 percent or 15 votes) were “undecided”.

On April 14, the New Zealand Government announced there would be a two-year phase out of live cattle being exported by sea.

At the heart of the decision was animal welfare.

One comment left by an online reader in support of the ban was “dead animals travel just as well. No need to keep them alive in horrible conditions”.

Other comments also supported only processed meat being exported.

“Even meat animals deserve pain and suffering-free deaths. Weeks on a crowded ship is not that,” said a “yes” voter.

Another online reader in support said: “At last. It's just a shame that it has a two-year wind-down. Should be immediate.”

Of the “no” voters, one said: “Once again a decision made by government with no warning or consolation”.

Another reader against the move to ban live exports said: “This has been carried out successfully for many years with the mortality rate no more than in the paddock.

“It is an essential tool for farmers who produce more calves than they require — something they have no control over.

“Yet another Government madness to further destroy the economy and take another stab at farmers who are the very ones keeping this country solvent at present.”