OPINION: Like many Kiwis, I was shocked watching the footage of a Northland sharemilker assaulting a dairy cow with a steel bar. It was later revealed the same farm had a rat-infested offal pit filled with the unburied carcasses of hundreds of cows and calves.

Blatant animal abuses like this shouldn’t be tolerated in a modern country and risk our agricultural exports. Gandhi once said a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated and we should strive to be a world leader in animal welfare.

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As an animal lover I’m angry. Animals feel pain and suffering. How could someone get away with treating an animal like this? Why was a 30-minute chat with the farmer sufficient for the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI)? Why didn’t MPI pick up the mass-grave offal pit when they visited? Why isn’t MPI using lawful cameras to detect animal abuse? Why are MPI regularly failing to detect these egregious cases and waiting for footage being released to the media to act?

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The case rings warning bells because it wasn’t detected by appropriate agencies. The Ministry had investigated and visited the farm after complaints from a farm worker but has had to re-open the case after the damaging footage was released by campaigning group Farmwatch. It raises the question of why we are reliant on animal welfare activists to discover these abuses and why couldn’t a government department find this evidence? New Zealand shouldn’t be out-sourcing animal abuse investigations to volunteers.

I’m heartened that Animal Welfare Minister Meka Whaitiri has asked for an update from the Ministry in terms of how they investigate and how long investigations take. It’s always going to be a challenge for a few dozen inspectors to monitor the welfare of around 60 million commercially farmed animals. Especially so when MPI also has the job of promoting agricultural exports. Can the fox guard the hen house?

Our current law does not allow inspectors to use CCTV investigations for potential animal welfare offences. Slaughterhouse cameras are being rolled out in Israel, the United Kingdom and France and we should consider their use in slaughterhouses and animal facilities here. While a national conversation and possible law change would take time, in the short term there’s a host of practical steps MPI could be taking.

NEWSROOM Blatant animal abuses shouldn’t be tolerated in a modern country, writes Gareth Hughes.

I’ve written to the Animal Welfare Minister suggesting MPI utilise cameras with the approval of landowners. If MPI had the landowner’s permission to install a camera, evidence to prosecute this Northland sharemilker could have been gathered. It’s ultimately in the farmer’s interest to have healthy animals and be compliant with our Animal Welfare Act.

Another practical step would be random farm inspections and more regular inspections of farms where complaints have been laid. Looking forward I’ve urged the Minister to consider whistle-blower protections for farm workers who may be reluctant to complain about an employer or colleague and develop a special investigations branch to utilise forensic investigations.

Lastly, I think this case, and the many before it, demonstrate we need an independent voice and protector of animals. I’m supporting the creation of an Independent Commissioner for Animals, like the Children’s Commissioner or the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. Much the same as children and the environment, animals can’t speak, can’t lay a complaint or defend their rights in a court of law – they need an advocate, a champion.

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/FAIRFAX NZ Gareth Hughes supports the creation of an Independent Commissioner for Animals.

In 2018 we need to make sure our animals are protected. It is ultimately in our farmers’ economic interest to ensure high standards of animal welfare. If New Zealand gets a reputation as a soft touch for animal abuse, we risk the opportunity to move up the value chain from low-value commodities to higher-value, brand-NZ products.

This month we have seen the debate about plant-based proteins with Air New Zealand serving the Impossible Burger. New technology certainly is going to be a disruptor to the agricultural sector but perhaps the biggest risk in the short-term is poor animal welfare practices. New Zealand needs an effective regime to detect and deter animal abusers.

MP Gareth Hughes is the Green Party's animal welfare spokesperson