New Zealand bans battery cages for hens – but replacement ‘just as bad’

Colony cages are larger but animal welfare campaigners say the birds are still not able to behave naturally

Battery cages for layer hens will become illegal in New Zealand from 2023 but animal welfare campaigners are urging the government to scrap the replacement colony cages, which they say are just as bad.

The plan to ban battery cages has been 10 years in the making - in 2012, the previous National party government committed to phasing them out by 1 January 2023.