An image of a shearer punching a sheep. Image – PETA Asia-Pacific.

THREE New Zealand sheep shearers have pleaded guilty to animal welfare violations and face sentencing in NZ courts in coming weeks.

The Ministry for Primary Industries director of investigations and compliance support Gary Orr said the three shearers are each facing separate charges of ill treatment of sheep under the Animal Welfare Act.

Under the Act, the maximum penalty is 12 months’ imprisonment or a fine of $50,000 or both.

“We can confirm the first shearer is scheduled for sentence on 29 July at Palmerston North District Court.

“A second shearer is scheduled for sentencing on 27 August at Oamaru District Court,” he said.

“A third shearer is scheduled for sentencing on 2 September at Hastings District Court.”

Mr Orr said there is a warrant to arrest a fourth shearer who failed to appear in court.

“A fifth shearer, a foreign national who is not in New Zealand, remains under investigation,” he said.

Mr Orr said MPI will not be disclosing its enforcement options in relation to the fifth shearer at this stage.

“While the defendants do not have name suppression, MPI’s position is that, for privacy reasons, we do not name a defendant until a case has concluded before the court.”

The charges against the shearers stemmed from the findings of a PETA investigation of more than 30 wool operations in New Zealand, including 11 that were ZQ-certified. PETA supplied more than 230 video files and other evidence from the investigation to the Ministry for Primary Industries, which laid 21 charges against shearers.

Sources – MPI, PETA.