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Battery hen protester Deirdre Sims. - Source: ONE News -
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Two protesters chained to silos at a battery hen farm south of Auckland have come down from their perch tonight.
The women had been on the seven-metre high silos at the Tuakau property since 6am.
They were protesting battery hen farming and were given a verbal trespass warning by police this morning.
Deirdre Sims and Marie Brittain of the group Coalition to End Factory Farming say they took the action to draw attention to the cruelty of battery farms.
"Over the past year we have been involved in investigating many battery hen farms across the country. What we've seen is both shocking and sadly typical of factory farms in New Zealand," Sims said.
"It is heartbreaking to see inside these sheds. You see row upon row of caged hens that are treated as nothing more than egg producing machines, unable to carry out the most basic natural behaviours such as wing stretching and walking."
Just before 10pm they told ONE News they made an agreement with police to come down if they weren't arrested nor charged.
There are no protesters at the silos tonight.
The women and other protesters now plan on marching on parliament next month to draw attention to their cause.
Earlier Matt Rogers, police northern communications shift manager, told ONE News police had to stay at the scene until the women came down, tying up precious resources.
"I'm sure there are other members of the public that actually need police assistance rather than us wasting our time there," he said.
Earlier this evening the women had said they were well prepared for the night but now seem content with getting their message across .
Reason for protest
Organiser Mark Eden told ONE News a new draft Code of Welfare for Layer Hens doesn't go far enough towards improving conditions for the animals.
"The government is reviewing the code of welfare for hens at the moment and we want to put as much pressure on the ministry as possible, that's why we are doing this," he said.
He said free range eggs are increasing but the majority of hens that lay eggs in New Zealand are in factory farms like the one that's the scene of the protest. The farm has been chosen as an example of a nationwide issue.
"Our action is not aimed at this particular farm. It is aimed at the egg industry which is inherently cruel and a government which refuses to act," Sims said.
Eden said the protest is part of a campaign to create awareness of the battery farming industry in election year. He said after a successful outcome with sow crates, it's hoped momentum will continue to build.
Egg producers say they support change
Michael Guthrie, the chairman of the Egg Producers' Federation, said in response to the protest that his industry supported the government's proposal to phase out current cages and begin using colony- style hen farming. But he said that would take time.
"Colonies not only meet the requirements of the law, but they achieve what we would all regard as desirable - the opportunity for birds to indulge in natural behaviours such as nesting, scratching, perching and spreading their wings," he said.
"The proposals released by government involve enormous and costly change for egg farmers... An adequate transition time is required to make such extensive changes."
The owner of the Tuakau farm where the protesters were on the silos told ONE News "this is how he makes a living and feeds his children".
The government's proposals are open for public consultation until March 25.
What do you think about the protests and the issue? Have your say on the messageboard below.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentAdam1 said on 2011-02-23 @ 19:23 NZDT: Report abusive post
RHorsfall is right; if we don't want to eat eggs produced in this cruel manner, we need to avoid the companies that put them in their products: the bakeries and restaurants. Unless it's free range, I don't eat it, and that includes restaurants and bakeries. Good on ya, RHorsfall.
RHorsfall said on 2011-02-22 @ 12:16 NZDT: Report abusive post
Ok so you say you are not goin to eat eggs then don't eat food from the bakery cause daa they are made from caged hens. They use pulp in there food so if you are not going to eat eggs stop eating cakes etc.
amandabee said on 2011-02-22 @ 09:10 NZDT: Report abusive post
The way all eggs are produced is absolutely disgusting, caged being by far the worst. I won't be putting anything near my mouth that has been squeezed out of a tortured bird's vagina.
AaronC said on 2011-02-22 @ 00:10 NZDT: Report abusive post
I totally support these protestors. people who "Farm" like this are maggots, the scourge of our society, the scum at the bottom of humanity. How they can look at themselves in the mirror I will never know.
zalotite said on 2011-02-21 @ 21:05 NZDT: Report abusive post
Let's be clear: anti-cages does not mean pro-free range. However, just because there are are many issues with welfare of hens in free range systems, does NOT mean that cages should be endorsed. To advocate for caged systems is the equivalent of advocating for slavery: as long as the slaves are fed and sheltered, right? Oppression and exploitation are indefensible. Cage systems are outside the Animal Welfare Act: they do not meet the minimum standards required by law nor morality.