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The forum is an operational group combining Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI) staff and industry professionals. We work together to improve animal welfare across the production supply chain – from on-farm to transportation, sale yards to processors.

The purpose of the forum is to:

  • improve livestock welfare
  • strengthen relationships between core livestock production industry groups and MPI
  • consider how to improve livestock welfare strategically, based on:
    • public concerns
    • international trends
    • the expertise of forum members
    • risks to the primary sector's reputation as a whole.

What the forum does

The forum supports MPI's Safeguarding our Animals, Safeguarding our Reputation Programme by:

  • identifying risks, issues, and suitable solutions
  • working together on opportunities where possible
  • sharing information on industry initiatives
  • acting as a reference point to check how feasible, accepted, or available the alternatives for initiatives and priorities are
  • providing a coordination point for initiatives
  • monitoring the progress of MPI and industry initiatives
  • promoting positive change by identifying and removing obstacles in the system.

Forum membership

Membership includes representatives from many groups, including:

  • Beef + Lamb NZ
  • Dairy Companies Association of NZ
  • DairyNZ
  • Deer Industry New Zealand
  • Egg Producers Federation New Zealand
  • Poultry Industry Association of New Zealand
  • Federated Farmers
  • Meat Industry Association
  • NZ Petfood Manufacturers Association
  • New Zealand Pork
  • NZ Stock and Station Agents Association
  • NZ Veterinary Association
  • Road Transport Forum
  • SPCA
  • Ministry for Primary Industries.

MPI business units