New Zealand's international reputation is at risk if the Government goes ahead with overturning the live export ban, Opposition parties say.
A petition with almost 60,000 signatures was handed over to Labour MP Damien O'Connor on Tuesday demanding the Coalition Government protects the ban on live exports.
As part of the National-ACT coalition agreement, the Government will reverse the ban on live exports while "ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare".
The previous Labour Government announced a ban on live animal exports by sea in 2021, which came into effect at the end of April 2023.
It followed the sinking of the stock ship Gulf Livestock 1 in 2020 where two New Zealanders and almost 6000 cattle died.
However, it was criticised by National who cited an Infometrics Economic Impact Report which found the ban will reduce New Zealand's gross domestic product by $472 million.
The ban was championed by then-Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor, who received the petition at Parliament on Tuesday.
O'Connor told supporters of the ban gathered outside of Parliament the reversal of the ban is an "economic issue".
"New Zealand's economy relies on the ethical management of animals. Animal protein through meat and milk is how we survive and people buy our products on the understanding that we have managed our animals in an ethical way," he said.
O'Connor said New Zealand would not have its trade agreement with the UK or the EU unless there was a chapter committing to high standards of animal welfare.
"Why would a stupid Government want to turn this over and start up a trade for a very small portion of our total exports just so a few traders can make a few bucks," he said.
"I think the vast majority of farmers would rather have a high ethical standard, get more for their products on the international market and be proud of how we manage our animals on farms."
According to Labour, live exports made up less than 0.32 percent of the primary sector export revenue.
The petition was led by retired veterinarian Dr John Hellström who said other countries are looking to ban live exports.
"This is going to affect the consumers in the markets overseas looking at New Zealand products and thinking why did they go back on the ban," he told Newshub.
Speaking to Newshub after the petition was handed over, O'Connor said there is a risk to New Zealand's international reputation if the ban is reversed.
"We produce the best protein in the world, in the safest conditions, if it's undermined by poor animal welfare standards that put us all at risk," O'Connor said.
Labour spokesperson for animal welfare Rachel Boyack reinforced the risk to New Zealand on AM on Tuesday.
"Consumer preferences are changing. People are making choices about the food they eat based on the environmental and ethical standards that exist. So, the risks to our reputation and the risks to these cattle absolutely outweigh any benefit," she said.
Green Party's animal welfare spokesperson Steve Able said New Zealand wants to be a nation known for looking after its animals and putting them on ships is "cruel".
"It's not what New Zealanders want to see happening to animals that are raised in this country," he told Newshub.
"If there is a change of Government, this ban will come back into place. The industry should know don't waste your money in getting live exports going again because we will stop them."
Both the Labour Party and the Greens said they would reinstate the ban if elected to Government.
During the election campaign, the National Party said it would bring in a 'gold standard' programme for live exports that would set world-leading compliance standards like built-for-purpose ships, maximum stocking densities, vet and stock handler training, more robust reporting, exporter licensing and an importer quality assurance programme.
CEO of animal advocacy group SAFE Debra Ashton was doubtful the gold care standard would protect animals.
"The gold standard of care is impossible. We know that animals suffer on those ships, it wouldn't matter what kind of conditions they are going to implement," she said.
"When they arrive in the destination country, they are not going to be treated in ways that we would expect them to be treated here in New Zealand."
Newshub has contacted Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard, who is responsible for animal welfare, for comment.
