Dr Michael Morris Animal welfare writer www.nzchas.canterbury.ac.nz

Animal welfare issues have dominated the national news recently with footage of sows screaming in barren crates, revelations of shady practices by the Pork Board, and then an expose of the way cows are routinely induced to abort during normal practice on dairy farms. Animal welfare has had less exposure in the local news with the run up to the council elections, possibly because it is thought to be more a national than a local issue.

While it is true that local bodies have very little control over the Animal Welfare Act, the same cannot be said of the Resource Management Act (RMA), which delegates decision making on new developments to regional and district councils. When it comes to approvals for new factory farms, the district council has a say on land use, and the regional council on discharges. Intensive piggeries have a horrendous effect on the environment. Colin Kaye, the piggery owner in Levin, recently exposed by Open Rescue and Mike King, was recently fined in the environment court for deliberately disposing of effluent where it could contaminate ground water. Reids piggery in Carterton have also been fined for discharging essentially raw sewage into waterways. Greater Wellington had previously allowed them an extension of a resource consent, in spite of objections from neighbours and animal activists.

A council that takes a stronger line on the environment will therefore also be helping animals. It is also possible for the Resource Management Act to directly restrict activities on animal welfare grounds. During the recent submissions on the cow feed, lots in the McKenzie country, it was considered that the definition of environmental effects in the Resource Management Act should include the damage that mistreating animals does to New Zealand's brand.

The RMA defines "environment" as "social, economic, aesthetic, and cultural conditions...". Opinion polls have consistently shown that the public is opposed to factory farming of animals, particularly pigs in sow stalls and farrowing crates and battery hens in cages. It should therefore be possible to refuse consents to factory farmers on the basis that it is an affront to social and cultural sensibilities.

Other ways that councils can affect conditions for animals include policies on dog control by the district councils and the use of 1080 and other inhumane pest control measures by the regional council. Auckland City became newsworthy for banning rodeos from council property. While there are many issues deserving of attention in the local elections, I would ask voters to spare at least some thought to electing candidates who show some respect for animals.