Animal exports to continue
Port Taranaki says it will continue to provide facilities and services for live cattle exports until the Government’s two-year phase-out period ends.
The Government announced last week that the $250 million live animal export trade will be banned from 2023.
Although the live export trade began in 2015, livestock carriers only started using the Taranaki Regional Council-owned port company’s facilities in early 2020.
About 113,000 Friesian breeding cows were exported to China from New Zealand ports last year.
New Plymouth councillor and animal welfare advocate Anneka Carlson, who has already called for the ban to be brought in sooner, said the port’s decision was ‘‘pretty disappointing’’.
‘‘I think it’s pretty weak to be honest,’’ Carlson said yesterday.
‘‘We could essentially stop it now. Port Taranaki had an opportunity to lead by example.’’
She said it was as if the port was pretending issues with the welfare of the cows being exported would not exist until 2023.
‘‘It’s just rubbish, in my mind.’’
Port Taranaki chief executive Guy Roper said the company recognised and respected the Government’s decision to ban shipping of live animals overseas and would support livestock export customers until 2023.
‘‘As we have stated in the past, Port Taranaki is not an exporter,’’ Roper said in a statement.
‘‘We provide a facility for exporters, and we remain committed to providing a facility for customers who have a lawful right to exchange trade – the export of livestock remains one such trade.’’
Port Taranaki is owned by the community through the Taranaki Regional Council and it was the company’s role to maximise the use of its assets so that it remained profitable and sustainable in the long term, he said.
Roper said the livestock trade from Port Taranaki had provided a profitable source of revenue.
Port Taranaki was active in finding new trade opportunities to develop new revenue streams, he said.
‘‘We are constantly seeking new opportunities as we work to be profitable for the entire region.
‘‘As the Government foreshadows change with transitional periods, we are responding accordingly.’’
Roper said the ‘Just Transition’ move to green energy and future green energy export provided opportunities now and in the future.
‘‘In the past 18 months we have provided logistics support in the development of two wind farms in New Zealand, and we are currently supporting the decommissioning of the Tui oil field, which is a two to three-year project.’’
Port Taranaki looked to further Government support for the region in the energy transition as was committed in 2018-19, he said.
Roper said the port also wanted to build on the return of the cruise ship industry.
‘‘We believe international tourists will see New Zealand and Taranaki as a fantastic destination to visit and we are keen to welcome them back when it is deemed safe.’’