Animal Justice Party
Animal Justice Party Aotearoa New Zealand
Not in Parliament Founded 2022
DW
RM
Co-leaders
Danette Wereta & Rob McNeil
Compassionate, non-violent, sustainable.
0
Seats
0.0% of 123
Overview
The Animal Justice Party is a New Zealand party centred on animal welfare and animal rights. It advocates non-violence towards animals, environmental sustainability, and a transition away from animal-based agriculture towards a plant-based economy, and campaigns for stronger legal protections for animals — including a proposed Commissioner for Animals. It holds no seats in the current Parliament.
History
The party grew out of the Animal Justice Auckland advocacy group and consultation with the Australian Animal Justice Party, and registered with the Electoral Commission in August 2023. It contested its first general election that year, standing 17 candidates for 0.17% of the party vote and no seats, and later ran in the 2025 local elections. It is co-led by Danette Wereta and Rob McNeil.
Incorporated as a society in November 2022 and registered with the Electoral Commission in August 2023, alongside its Australian sister party.
Core values
Transition to a plant-based economy, supporting farmers to change
End intensive winter grazing and factory farming
Oppose animal experimentation and the fur and leather trades
End recreational hunting, fishing and animal-entertainment industries
Create a Commissioner for Animals with legal standing
Embed Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in how animals are governed
Where they stand
Tap an issue to read Animal Justice Party’s position on it, in our words with their source. 4 of 11 topics have a recorded position.
Animal Justice Party on Economy
Shift economy from animal farming to plant-based production
This party wants New Zealand to move away from farming animals and toward growing plant-based food instead. They want to help farmers make that change. They also want to end practices they see as cruel, like live animal export and intensive winter grazing, and support industries that do not rely on animals, including fashion and product testing.
What they say they'll do
- Support farmers to transition from animal farming to growing plant-based produce
- Transition New Zealand toward a plant-based economy
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions through this economic transition
- End live animal export
- Ban intensive winter grazing practices
- Move fashion and product-testing industries away from animal use
Who this affects
Farmers
The party says it wants to support farmers to shift from raising animals to growing plant-based produce, which would change how their farms operate.
Agricultural sector
A move to a plant-based economy would mean significant changes to the types of food and goods produced in New Zealand's farming industry.
Fashion industry businesses
The party wants fashion production to move away from using animals, which would affect how some clothing and textile businesses source their materials.
In their own words
“Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning to a plant-based economy and supporting farmers to grow produce instead of farming animals”
“Compassionate, Non-Violent, Sustainable.”
“The party advocates non-violence towards animals, sustainability, and a transition away from animal-based agriculture toward a plant-based economy.”
Summarised neutrally from Animal Justice Party Aotearoa NZ’s own official policy (as at 2026-07-16) and checked by an editor. Nothing is paraphrased without the source linked. Read the original ↗ Arapono is non-partisan. Compare all parties on Economy →
Leadership
DW
Danette Wereta
Co-leader
RM
Rob McNeil
Co-leader
At a glance
Total seats0
Electorate seats0
List seats0
Share of House0.0%
Founded2022
Latest coverage
News and video mentioning Animal Justice Party, from the sources on our coverage page.
In the news
No news tagged to this party in the current window. That is the real state of the pool, not a loading error — coverage of the smaller parties is genuinely thin.
All newsOn video
An update on Donald the pigAnimal Justice Party · 27 JulClimate Change Response 14 July 2026Animal Justice Party · 27 JulCo-Leader Danette on the Platform with Michael Laws re: duckshootingAnimal Justice Party · 17 JunCo-Leader Danette's AJP Submission on the Fisheries Amendment Bill.Animal Justice Party · 17 Jun
Sources
Seat counts from the 2023 General Election (Electoral Commission). Party background from parliament.nz and official party records. Leadership verified against the parliament.nz member roster.