In November 2020, the High Court found that regulations and minimum standards relating to farrowing crates and mating stalls breach the Animal Welfare Act, and directed the Minister to consider recommending new regulations phasing out farrowing crates. Regulations were set with a phase-out date of December 2025.

Despite this, progress has stalled, with SPCA and the public not consulted since December 2022. Now, the Government has introduced a Bill under urgency allowing crates to be used indefinitely - just weeks before the ban was due on 18 December 2025.

Farrowing crates severely restrict sows’ natural behaviours, cause health problems, and harm piglets through higher stillbirths and poor maternal care. Well-designed free-farrowing pens can achieve equal or better piglet survival and meet sows’ needs.

This reversal undermines the High Court ruling, erodes years of progress on animal welfare, and raises serious concerns about the Government’s commitment to high animal standards. Rather than moving towards ending the cage age with the rest of the world, New Zealand is entrenching outdated and inhumane practices.

Read more about the issues with the proposed Animal Welfare (Regulations for Management of Pigs) Amendment Bill.

A growing number of countries have phased out farrowing crates or have pledged not to build new crates – either through Government standards or through industry leadership – reflecting public and veterinary concerns.

In light of the Government’s U-turn allowing crates indefinitely, SPCA calls on the Government to reinstate the previous National-led Coalition Government's commitment to transition out of non-compliant animal welfare practices, transition towards farrowing systems which are compliant with the law, engage in genuine public consultation, support farmers, and conduct independent welfare assessments of new technologies.

2025 NZ Government introduces a Bill under urgency that, if passed, would allow indefinite use of farrowing crates.

2025 The European Commission launches public consultation on new animal welfare legislation, including a proposal on phasing out the use of cages.

2025 The British Veterinary Association and Pig Veterinary Society call for a ban on farrowing crates.

2024 Finland bans the building of new farrowing crates.

2023 The Danish Ministry of Agriculture and the Danish Pig Producers Association have agreed not to build farrowing crates into any new build barns.

2022 NZ public consultation on two options a total ban on farrowing crates - or a requirement to build a larger pen, and to provide opportunities for nesting behaviour, before a short period of crating.

2020 The NZ High Court ruled that farrowing crates and mating stalls breach the Animal Welfare Act, ordering their phase-out by the end of 2025.

2020 Norway bans the use of farrowing crates; temporary crates are permitted for up to seven days.

2020 Germany announced a ban phasing out farrowing crates; temporary crates are permitted for up to five days.

2018 Over 100,000 New Zealanders sign a petition calling for a ban on farrowing crates.

2018 The European Citizens Initiative, End the Cage Age, is launched and eventually gathers over 1.4 million signatures.

2007 Switzerland bans farrowing crates, including temporary crates.

1988 Sweden bans farrowing crates, including temporary crates.