A $75,000 fund comprising government and industry money will be spent on workshops, online modules, practical assessments, and resources for those working in the wool sector.
Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard said the programme was designed to ‘‘build knowledge, skills, and best practice in animal care and welfare compliance in the shearing industry’’.
The fund follows People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) raising concerns a year ago after it went to 11 farms and shearing sheds in New Zealand producing ZQ-certified wool over two years.
The alleged incidents included hitting sheep with objects, repeatedly slamming a sheep's head into a board. Peta also claimed sheep were routinely hit, beaten in the face, and stitched up with needle and thread with no pain medication.
The Ministry of Primary Industries investigation into the allegations is continuing, although there does not seem to be a public explanation on why it is taking so long.
Shearers and farmers have understandably been keen to distance themselves from poor animal welfare practices.
Any international negative publicity on such issues may also have an impact on those wanting to market innovative wool products.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Peta would like to see more action, repeating calls for camera surveillance in shearing sheds.
This call has been dismissed by the government and the industry as unnecessary and intrusive, and its practicality has also been questioned.
Who would pay for the cameras, how would they be monitored, and would their installation even be possible in some remote places?
These may be valid arguments, but the public needs to know there is adequate monitoring of shearing practice.
The new Code of Welfare for Sheep and Beef Cattle, which has yet to be signed off by the government, may be a step in the right direction with its requirement for farmers to identify and treat sheep with shearing cuts or injuries.
Tributes for Dame Karen
She was not a headline hogger, but a straight talker out of the limelight, widely respected for her ability to get things done.
She held a variety of leading roles, including as our first female director-general of health, holding that position for 11 years from 1995. She then served as chief executive of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority for 14 years.
Dame Karen (nee Davidson) was born in Ranfurly, attended Gore High School before studying medicine at the University of Otago.
After completing public health post graduate study, her first management role was as deputy medical superintendent at Dunedin Hospital.
In her role as director-general of health she oversaw some major work, including the establishment of district health boards, the national meningococcal B vaccination programme, the implementation of the Cartwright Inquiry recommendations, the early response to HIV/AIDS, and primary health care reform.
Dame Karen had a strong belief in the value of public services and the need for them to be accessible for all.
As a leader she relished the opportunity to build strong teams and foster the talents of those within them, recognising in a big organisation it was important to know when she had to steer and when she had to row.
In a 2020 interview she said she had learned more from painful mistakes than any of her successes, referring to the immense anger the decision to close Porirua Hospital provoked when she was the chief executive of the Wellington Area Health Board.
While she still considered the closure was the right decision, she had got the process wrong, not consulting properly, and not bringing people with her and people were right to be angry.
Her wisdom, intellect and commitment to public service will be missed.
