The bill amends the Animal Welfare Act 1999 to ban the export of livestock by sea and shows the Government's commitment to upholding New Zealand's reputation for high standards of animal welfare. It's vital we stay ahead of the curve in a world where animal welfare is under more and more scrutiny. The Government started a review of the livestock export trade in 2019. Following the independent Heron report, which was carried out after the tragic loss of the Gulf Livestock 1 in September 2020, on 29 March 2021, the Government decided to ban the export of cattle, deer, goats, and sheep by ship with a transition period of up to two years. 