By Emma Brannam
A leaked letter sent on behalf of the Pork Industry Board has revealed some farmers want to avoid public scrutiny over conditions at their piggeries.
The document was handed to animal welfare group SAFE, which has accused the board of deception.
A nationwide audit of pig farms was announced last year after pictures of terrible living conditions caused a public outcry over the use of sow crates.
When completed, anyone should be able to access the results under the Official Information Act – a move the Pork Industry Board seems keen to avoid.
“It's an industry which is in damage control at the moment their cruel practices are being exposed over and over again,” says SAFE spokesman Hans Kriek.
In a leaked letter sent to farmers on behalf of the board it said:
"It's likely there will be a number of farms requiring corrective actions and those actions could cause embarrassment to the farmer if made public and could cause embarrassment to the industry if used by animal welfarists..."
The letter goes onto suggest that only the farmer and auditor need know the results with the board notified of a pass, fail or need for corrective actions.
“Safe is appalled it is trying to hide the findings of the audit from the New Zealand public,” Mr Kriek says.
“They want to bring out a label saying ‘100% Welfare Approved’ but they don't want people to find out how it's produced."
3 News tried to contact the Pork Industry Board to explain their actions but they have yet to return our calls.
Meanwhile, the Green Party is calling for the Government to step in and force the board to release the information.
3 News