850 (2024). Steve Abel to the Associate Minister of Agriculture

850 (2024). Steve Abel to the Associate Minister of Agriculture: Has the Minister met with or received correspondence from Live Export New Zealand (LENZ); if so what was the nature of the correspondence/ meeting?

Hon Andrew Hoggard: I have received information from Livestock Export New Zealand (LENZ) relating to a 'gold standard' for the export of livestock from New Zealand by sea, and attitudes to live animal exports and costs and benefits to wellbeing of a ban on the trade. I refer the member to the LENZ website where this information is publicly available: https://www.livestockexports.nz/ I held a meeting with LENZ on Tuesday 13 February, accompanied by officials from the Ministry for Primary Industries, during which this information was discussed. Reinstating livestock exports by sea will require amending the Animal Welfare Act 1999. I intend to work with the wide range of interested parties throughout this process.