Tauranga MP Simon Bridges is confident the animal cruelty bill he drafted will pass unanimously in Parliament, despite concern about it from opposition parties.
Simon originally drafted the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill as a private member's bill but it was adopted by Government.

Simon Bridges with his pet dog.

Opposition parties are sceptical whether law changes alone will reduce animal cruelty and are worried there is not enough staffing to adequately enforce the new law.
'My view is that because there's been so few people go to prison in the past, we actually need this law change so people will be dealt with more severely and there will be a stronger message to deter them,” he says.
The bill has come back to the house for its second reading after it was put before select committee.
Under the bill, the penalty for the worst wilful ill treatment of animals will increase from three to five years' imprisonment.
Financial penalties have gone up from $50,000 to $100,000 for individuals and $250,000 to $500,000 for corporate bodies.
The jail penalty for ill treatment offending has gone from six months' imprisonment to 12 months.
Neglect offending has increased in exactly the same way as ill treatment offending, says Simon.
He expects the bill to pass into law within two months.