Auckland activists “give a cluck” about chickens

Animal activists have taken action this morning against the slaughter of chickens outside a West Auckland meat processing plant.

More than 20 activists protested outside the gate of the Tegel Foods plant on Bruce McLaren Rd, wielding signs such as “animals are friends, not food” and “nothing humane happens in a slaughterhouse.”

Police also attended the protest, along with Tegel security staff.

Auckland Animal Save spokesperson Claire, who didn’t want her last name used, said that the purpose of the protest was to make people think about what happens behind the scenes.

“The aim of our event is to raise awareness and expose what they are doing to the animals.”

Claire said it is unacceptable that thousands of chickens aged from five to six weeks are processed through the Henderson plant daily.

“Regardless of whether they are free-range or organic they all go to the same slaughterhouse at the end of the day.

“We are a vegan organisation, so our stance is that animals are here with us on this planet and not for us. It is not our right as humans to just use them as we see fit.”

Claire said that there had never been police present at previous protests, however there were three armed police officers at the event today.

She said the police officers had told the activists that they were there to protect them as well as the Tegel property.

“They told one of our volunteers that some of the public have been heckling us and they were there to protect us in that regard.

“But they also told us as soon as we got there that if we went on private property then we would be trespassed.”

Tegel Foods have been approached for comment, but had not responded at the time of publication.