The Gulf Livestock 1 was tragically lost at sea after departing from New Zealand shores with some 42 crew members and 6,000 cows on board.

MPI commissioned Michael Heron KC and retired Rear Admiral Tony Parr to carry out an independent review of MPI’s Animal Welfare Export Certificate process and the welfare assurances MPI receives from animal exporters. The review considered the mechanics of the AWEC process and MPI’s practices and policies relating to live exports. Michael and Tony also heard from a vast array of experts on live exports and animal welfare.

The review concluded that MPI’s process was robust, but that there was room for improvement. MPI’s Director-General subsequently committed to making changes to MPI’s processes to keep both crew and animals safe on export ships.