ABOUT EWNZ
Here for horses, and the people who care for them
Equine Welfare NZ grew out of one veterinary nurse helping where she could. Today we're a registered charitable trust supporting horses and their owners across New Zealand, but the reason we exist hasn't changed.
WHY WE EXIST
Help that arrives before a crisis does
We believe a lot of horse welfare problems come from a lack of knowledge, not intent. Horses are complex and expensive to care for, and when an owner is struggling, there are few places to go for help.
When owners feel safe asking early, problems get caught before they become a crisis. A conversation about a horse losing condition is far easier to sort out than a horse that needs rescuing.
Rescue is still a big part of what we do, and it always will be when a horse needs it. But every horse whose problem is caught early is a horse that never needs rescuing. That's what success looks like for us.
HOW IT BEGAN
It started with Alice
We began as Rodney Animal Rescue (RAR), and RAR began with Alice Hayward and her determination to help animals and the people trying to care for them.
An experienced veterinary nurse, Alice has been helping animals in need since 2010, first fostering for the SPCA and then helping with large animal rescues through Horsewatch NZ. When Horsewatch closed, she kept going, often using her own time and money to provide veterinary care, rehabilitation and practical support. As that work continued to grow, it became clear that what had started as one person's effort needed something bigger around it. And so, in 2020, RAR was born.
From the beginning, the philosophy was about more than removing an animal from a difficult situation. Wherever possible, it was about understanding what had gone wrong, supporting and educating owners, and finding an outcome that gave both animal and owner the best chance of moving forward.
That approach still sits at the heart of who we are today.
"It's about more than just rescue, it's about education and improving things for horses all across New Zealand."
Alice Hayward
FROM RAR TO EWNZ
Why we became Equine Welfare NZ
What began as a small local rescue in Rodney was soon called on much further afield.
Over the years, horses became an increasingly significant part of our work. Most animal rescues in New Zealand focus on cats and dogs, while horses need land, specialist handling and ongoing vet care that few organisations can provide. Some situations also fall between what MPI and the SPCA are able to act on. That gap is where we could do the most good.
As our foster network expanded and our relationships with welfare agencies and equine professionals grew, we began supporting horses and owners well beyond Rodney. Calls came from right across the North Island, and we completed our first South Island rescue.
In 2026, Rodney Animal Rescue became Equine Welfare NZ, a name that better reflects who we are today and where we're heading. We are New Zealand's first national horse welfare charity.
We may have a new name and a national focus, but we haven't left our beginnings behind.
The compassion, practicality and willingness to simply get stuck in and help that Alice built RAR on remains at the heart of EWNZ.
WHAT DRIVES US
Horse welfare comes first
We do what helps the horse
We focus on what will genuinely improve the situation for the horse, whether that's owner support, education, rescue, rehabilitation or working alongside another organisation.
We consider everyone involved
Behind every welfare situation is a horse, and often a person who needs help too. We look at what led there and what will help both, with respect and understanding.
We work together
Good welfare takes a community. We work with owners, foster carers, adopters, volunteers, professionals, agencies and supporters to create lasting change.
We don't judge
Most welfare issues come from a lack of knowledge, not a lack of care. If you're worried about your horse, reaching out early is the right thing to do. You'll get advice, never blame.
BE PART OF IT
It started with Alice. It carries on with you.
Donating a few dollars every week is one of the easiest ways to help. It gives horses steady, reliable care, all year round.
COMMON QUESTIONS
How is EWNZ different from the SPCA and MPI?
The SPCA and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), a government ministry, are the organisations with legal powers to enforce animal welfare law in New Zealand. The SPCA is mainly responsible for companion animals and MPI for farmed and commercial animals, and horses can fall to either. Equine Welfare NZ is a charity, not an enforcement agency. We specialise in horses, ponies and donkeys, giving owners advice and guidance and rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming equines when they need it. Where a situation needs legal action, we refer it to the SPCA or MPI. Some situations fall outside what either agency can act on, and that is often where we can help.
Is sponsoring a horse the same as adopting one?
No. Sponsorship helps fund the care of a horse you do not take home. Adoption or rehoming is a separate process with suitability checks and long-term safety conditions.
Are donations to Equine Welfare NZ tax-deductible?
Yes! Equine Welfare New Zealand (EWNZ) is a registered charity with IRD-approved donee status. Donations of $5 or more are eligible for a 33.33% tax credit for qualifying New Zealand taxpayers.
For example, if you donate $100, you can claim $33.33 back from Inland Revenue.
You'll receive a donation receipt, which you can use to claim your tax credit through myIR.
Equine Welfare NZ Registered Charitable Trust Building on the work of Rodney Animal Rescue
Charity Registration CC63890