Six animal welfare complaints have been lodged with the Ministry of Primary Industries after Shane Jones brought a live crayfish to Parliament.
The minister for oceans and fisheries took the crayfish, gifted to him by Ngāi Tahu, to Parliament on Tuesday in celebration of Seafood Week.
Video showed the crustacean moving in Jones’ hands while he spoke to journalists.
“This koha will be consumed on the night of the Budget,” he said. “I’m not taking it into the house for fear of the Speaker confiscating it and consuming it.”
The crayfish was then put into a supermarket chiller bag.
