Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The man behind the 57,000-strong petition to keep the live export trade banned, John Hellstrom, says even if it was reversed there would be no viable export markets available.
The National Party confirmed it has withdrawn its support for resuming live animal exports by sea, despite campaigning to reverse the ban last election.
Reinstating the trade was a coalition agreement with both NZ First and Act.
The Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay said National's support was conditional on a "gold standard" of animal care being implemented, but his party was not convinced such a standard existed.
A review by Massey University of 44 live export sailings November 2020 and November 2022 confirmed it was not possible to ascertain what the standard onboard was, because record-keeping was so poor.
And one of the final sailings - the Gelbray Express to China in April 2023 was supposed to be a gold standard trial run between the Ministry for Primary Industries and the live export industry - but again - no such standard could be assured.
John Hellstrom is the former chair of the National Animal Welfare Advisory and retired veterinarian.
