Damien O'Connor & Jacinda Ardern defend live animal export ban 14 Apr, 2021 02:30 AM 4 minutes to read Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor. Photo / Supplied The Country Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor admits a live export ban will be "a blow" for some farmers, but dealing with change is part of the job. This morning, the Government confirmed plans to ban live animal exports from 2023. Read More The two-year transitional period would give people time to find "another area of opportunity," O'Connor told The Country's Jamie Mackay. "There will be emerging opportunities in the primary sector. There has always been change and I think that we're some of the most adaptive farmers and people in the world and that will continue."