Shaw James: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeShaw James: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 26 May 2015. Volume:705;Page:3941. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]8.JAMES SHAW (Green) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: How many of the 900 ewes that flew to Saudi Arabia on Singapore Airlines in October 2014 at the taxpayers’ expense are still alive?Hon MURRAY McCULLY (Minister of Foreign Affairs): Officials confirm that all of the 900 ewes arrived in Saudi Arabia in good condition. The nature of the project being undertaken in Saudi Arabia makes it impossible for me to provide a specific answer to the questions that he asks. However officials advise that according to the most recent reports the answer is approximately 850.James Shaw: Did he remove the provisions guaranteeing the welfare of the sheep once they arrived in Saudi Arabia because he knew that Suffolk sheep bred for cold climates will not survive the 40 degree heat or because the sheep just happened to get there the same month as the haj a religious pilgrimage that involves the ritual sacrifice of over 700000 sheep?Hon MURRAY McCULLY: There were three reasons for agreeing to remove the provision that the member refers to. The first was that as a matter of principle the Saudi Arabian Government found it offensive that we should seek to extend the jurisdiction of New Zealand law on to Saudi Arabian soil. Secondly it was probably unenforceable legally anyway. But thirdly the Animal Welfare Act 1999 requires the Director-General of the Ministry for Primary Industries to have regard to such matters as the previous history of the exporter the provisions for the animals’ welfare during the journey and all the relevant Ministry for Primary Industries animal welfare standards and guidelines. That seemed to me and the New Zealand Government to provide the protection that New Zealand wanted.James Shaw: Why do recent satellite pictures of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise’s $7.5 million agri-hub in Saudi Arabia to which the sheep were flown show no visible livestock farming in the middle of the desert?Hon MURRAY McCULLY: I have received recent reports from officials and from those who are superintending the project who tell me that what is a partially completed project is proceeding well. I do not know what images the member refers to but what I will say is that the Green Party members are difficult to please on this matter. They wanted us to ban the export of live sheep for slaughter and the Government has renewed that export prohibition. They wanted us to have regard for animal welfare matters and so the Government flew the sheep for the pilot on Singapore Airlines. If the member is telling us that he wants us to fly them business class next time that is something we will give consideration to!James Shaw: Does he think it is suspicious that the New Zealand company that won the tender to fly sheep over to Saudi Arabia is in part owned by Mr al-Khalaf the influential Saudi businessman who was blocking the free-trade deal with Saudi Arabia; and is it not also suspicious that only he was kept up to date with the tender process while other tenderers such as Deloitte and GG Wrightson were not?Hon MURRAY McCULLY: The contract for the lead provider’s position which is what the member is referring to was awarded through a tender process that was overseen by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and an expert who was formerly the chief executive of Landcorp. I am satisfied that the New Zealand Government procurement requirements were met in that respect.