Pig protest ends in a cell

MARK TAYLOR/Waikato Times

LOCKED TIGHT: Protester John Darroch, 22, on top of a silo at a Roto-O-Rangi Rd pig farm yesterday.

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An animal rights protester spent the first night of his stand against pig farming in the cells at Hamilton police station after he was arrested last night.

Armed with a sleeping bag, Auckland-based New Zealand Open Rescue member John Darroch headed out to a Roto-O-Rangi Rd pig farm at 7.30am yesterday before chaining himself to an 8-metre high grain silo with the intention of spending at least two days there.

Several of his supporters, who also travelled down from Auckland, stood at the front gate with banners, placards and pig costumes.

But Te Awamutu police Senior Sergeant Dave Simes said the farm manager called them just before 9pm to remove Mr Darroch.

Bolt cutters initially proved ineffective to cut the chains so an angle grinder was used.

"The man had a helmet and visor placed on him to ensure his safety and he was removed without incident," Mr Simes said.

Mr Darroch, 22, was charged with trespass and being unlawfully on a property and will appear in Hamilton District Court today.

Mr Simes said police were grateful farm owner Kevin Monks had not confronted the group.

Mr Monks was not home when the Times visited and did not return calls.

Mr Darroch said his actions were not aimed at Mr Monk's farm, which was acting lawfully, but at an "industry which is inherently cruel and a government which refuses to act".

Mr Darroch said the Roto-O-rangi Rd pig farm was just one of several he'd visited in the Waikato over the past month.

He was shocked and saddened by what he'd seen.

The conditions were filthy, he said, claiming there was evidence of cannibalism and dead piglets.

It was "absolutely disgusting" that sows were kept in crates no bigger than 2 metres by 60 centimetres.

New Zealand Open Rescue, which formed in 2006, say they want the Government to fix loopholes in the Animal Welfare Act which allowed Codes of Welfare to be implemented that did not meet the basic principles of the act.

- © Fairfax NZ News