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Codes form part of the Animal Welfare Act

Owners or people in charge of animals must comply with the:

  • Animal Welfare Act 1999 
  • minimum standards for animal care and management in codes of welfare
  • regulations issued under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

The codes are issued under the Act but appear separate from the Act because with so many types of animals and situations, it is impractical to include them all in the Act. It would make for lengthy and unwieldy legislation.

Find the code of welfare for your animal or type of animal activity

How to use the codes of animal welfare

More than one code of welfare might be relevant for a particular situation. For example, when transporting sheep, 2 codes would apply:

  • the sheep and beef cattle code of welfare
  • the transport within New Zealand code of welfare.

Codes of welfare also have recommended best practices. These recommendations set out standards of care and conduct, over and above the minimum required to meet the obligations in the Act. They are included to encourage higher standards of animal welfare.

Although relevant regulations are referenced in the codes, there may be other regulations that are relevant to you. Check the full list of animal welfare regulations where appropriate.

Legally speaking

If you are charged with an offence under the Act:

  • evidence of your failure to meet a relevant minimum standard in a code may be used to support the prosecution
  • your defence may include evidence that you equalled or exceeded the minimum standards in a relevant code.

The codes are flexible enough to be modified and improved as community expectations, good practice, scientific knowledge and technical advances allow.

Codes of welfare replace the 'Codes of recommendations and minimum standards', which were issued under a previous law. 

Find a code for your animal or activity

A code of welfare can apply to:

  • a particular animal species
  • activities that might involve many animal species, like circuses, zoos, or transporting.

We've put the codes into 2 groups to help you find the one you need — for a species or an activity.

Codes of welfare: animal species

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Codes of welfare: animal activities, housing, surgery, slaughter

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Animal welfare law

Animal Welfare Act – NZ Legislation

A guide to the Animal Welfare Act 1999

Who to contact

If you have questions about the codes, or wish to access previous versions of the codes, email info@mpi.govt.nz

To report cases of animal ill-treatment or cruelty call 0800 00 83 33 (select option 2 from the menu).

MPI business units