Some animal rights groups use blockades of intensive farming operations as a way of publicising their views. In June 2012 Deidre Sims of New Zealand Open Rescue and Menghzu Fu (pictured) of Animal Freedom Aotearoa padlocked themselves to 8-metre-high tripods across the main access road to Mainland Poultry at Waikouaiti, New Zealand's largest battery-hen farm. A third protester, Marie Brittain, padlocked herself to the gate. Police eventually arrested all three and charged them with obstructing a public way. The women were protesting against a new code of welfare under the Animal Welfare Act that allowed farmers to keep hens in colony cages, which they said prevented the birds from moving freely and gaining exposure to sunlight. The protest action was supported by SAFE (Save Animals From Exploitation).
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Otago Daily Times
Photograph by Gerard O'Brien
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