NEW Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries has confirmed four sheep shearers are facing animal welfare charges following a shearing investigation.
The charges have comes as a result of an ongoing MPI investigation into breaches of the Animal Welfare Act.
The MPI said the offending came to light in December 2024 when animal advocacy group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals provided video footage to the MPI and alleged animal abuse by shearers.
MPI’s director of investigations and compliance support Gary Orr said the ministry responded by initiating an investigation into the claims to determine what offences had occurred and hold those responsible to account.
“People in charge of animals have a responsibility to make sure they are being cared for properly.
“In a number of instances, what we saw on the video footage provided fell short of those expectations,” he said.
“Our enquiries identified eight individuals for further investigation, four of whom have already been charged.
“A total of 21 charges have been laid to date with appearances scheduled throughout the country in April and May,” he said.
“A warrant to arrest one of the four charged individuals has been issued.
“We are continuing our enquiries into other related animal welfare matters.”
Meanwhile, MPI has been working alongside industry on a one-year pilot programme to support training initiatives to improve animal welfare outcomes in New Zealand woolsheds.
The programme supports targeted training initiatives that build knowledge, skills, and best practice in animal care and welfare compliance in the shearing industry.
It was announced in December 2025 and is also supported by PGG Wrightson and the New Zealand Merino Company, Wool Impact, the New Zealand Shearing Contractors Association and the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
“Animal welfare is everyone’s responsibility and MPI strongly encourages any member of the public who is aware of animal ill-treatment or cruelty to report it to the MPI animal welfare complaints freephone 0800 008 333,” Mr Orr said.
PETA requests live-streaming in NZ shearing sheds
PETA Asia-Pacific president Jason Baker said the charges are precedent-setting, but represent only a fraction of the abuse rampant in the massive wool industry, where workers treat terrified sheep like punching bags.
PETA’s investigations encompass only 34 New Zealand facilities out of thousands, so it’s sobering to imagine the suffering that has not been caught on camera, the organisation said.
“Personal responsibility remains the only safeguard against cruelty.
“Wool industry workers are strongly encouraged to blow the whistle on their places of work, and meanwhile, the public must accept that wool means sheep will suffer and ultimately be slaughtered for a garment and that choosing not to buy it is the fastest and most effective way to run this sickening industry into the ground.”
Mr Baker said as not one supervisor or worker at the facilities visited by PETA’s investigators intervened to stop any abuse of sheep whatsoever, PETA is requesting that all shearing sheds promptly start live-streaming operations.
How to stop this sickening cruelty now is stiff penalties for this abuse – live streaming in wool sheds and oversight by a shearer registration board that requires standards. The employers of the shearers will be held accountable for, as well as the shearers themselves, will have an impact. In other words, education and professionalism. This will provide an avenue for others in the shed to report to, as this abuse is counter to their employer’s best interest, their own employment conditions and the sheep will not have to suffer this blatant bad tempered cruelty.
In our Responsible Wool Standard certified shed we talk to the shearers and tell them that they have to stop shearing and get a shed hand to spray any cut sheep for pain relief if they cut a sheep. They don’t like to be shown up so they just don’t cut them. This includes a team of school kids we host each year learning to shear. Pretty simple stuff.
We also tell the shearers to leave the shanks on as the snakes are bad! (joke) … and don’t worry about doing a second cut as it is only locks and we will own them next shearing and get it then. It all helps. Plain easy to shear sheep help too.