What has happened
PETA has released covertly filmed footage, highlighting confronting shearing and animal welfare practices. They claim farms in the ZQ Programme are implicated in the video, although this is unverified as PETA has not shared names or locations with NZM. The single farm they have named has been inaccurately identified as a supplier to ZQ and NZM has requested retraction and clarification.
The full material of PETA’s allegations is now with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) who are following their own regulatory process in reviewing the claims.
We are deeply troubled and appalled by the images shared by PETA and unequivocally condemn the mistreatment of animals. We agree with PETA on this issue and fully support their efforts in bringing these incidents to light. To that end we are actively cooperating with the MPI to support its identification of the responsible parties.
Animal welfare is at the heart of what we do. The ZQ Programme is built on a foundational commitment to improving animal welfare. It has been a force for meaningful and positive change in the wool industry, including leading the charge by banning the controversial practice of mulesing within our New Zealand supply base, a decade before it was outlawed in 2018.
All ZQ grower properties are independently audited by Control Union to the rigorous requirements of both the ZQ Standard and the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) owned by Textile Exchange.
While we have now established direct contact with PETA and received a response, we are disappointed that they have chosen not to share the names and locations of the farms depicted in the footage with us. This lack of transparency delays both disciplinary action under the ZQ Standard and the necessary steps toward reform.
The New Zealand Merino Company (NZM) is thoroughly investigating whether any ZQ farms may be implicated and we remain committed to taking swift action once the individuals responsible are confirmed. Additionally, we have sought a correction from PETA regarding the misidentification of the one farm it has incorrectly named as a ZQ supplier.
It is crucial to maintain perspective. The actions of a few individuals do not represent the more than 600 farms within the ZQ grower base, many of which are multi-generational family properties, committed to being part of a standard that advocates for the highest levels of animal welfare. We absolutely reject the claim that animal abuse is typical in the ZQ Programme. These isolated incidents do not define our standards, integrity, or the dedication of an industry committed to excellence.
The MPI investigation will uncover any breaches of the Animal Welfare Act 1999, however, ZQ growers are held to a higher standard to maintain their certification. To that end we have initiated a full review of the claims made with our third-party auditor Control Union. This is outlined below.
The ZQ Grower Manual outlines 20 requirements for growers to keep sheep and shearers safe during the shearing process and provides additional resources:
The ZQ Shearing Assessment - A protocol that has been designed to provide indicators of shearing best practice. Growers are encouraged to complete the ZQ Shearing Assessment in conjunction with the shearing contractor or team leader as part of pre-shearing planning.