Disgraced former “Today” show host Matt Lauer is being accused by animal rights activists of alleged abuse — at a sheep farm that operates at his New Zealand luxury hideaway, The Post has learned.
Lauer purchased the 16,000-acre spread on the South Island for more than $9 million in 2017 — just months before he was booted from the morning show after several women accused him of sexual harassment and rape.
He has leased a chunk of the land to sheep farmers in the country, which is a major player in the global wool trade. Lauer is not involved with the operation of the farm, called Hunter Valley Farming.
An undercover investigation by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals into the Asia-Pacific wool industry claims sheep at Hunter Valley Farming appeared to get struck, with some needing stitches, during the shearing process, according to a grisly video the animal rights group shared with The Post.
“Matt Lauer’s New Zealand getaway is hell for scared sheep who are flung about, pinned down and cut up,” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk told The Post.
“PETA wants Lauer to wash his hands of the bloody wool business.”
Lauer, who was never charged and denied all allegations that led to his dismissal from NBC, reportedly sold his $44 million home in the Hamptons in 2022, partly so he could spend more time at his New Zealand home.
His property — known as Hunter Valley Station and located about two hours north of Queenstown — includes a “five-bedroom, lakefront homestead” and boasts stunning views of the Southern Alps mountain range, according to a Sotheby’s listing.
A spokesperson for Lauer said he had “absolutely no knowledge of any alleged problems at his property” until The Post reached out for comment.
“(Lauer) was deeply disturbed and saddened to hear of what allegedly has happened, and immediately launched his own investigation of his tenant’s operations, which is currently underway,” the rep told The Post, adding that PETA has never contacted him with any complaints.
“When all the facts are known, he will take immediate and appropriate actions.”
New Zealand, which has more sheep than people, is the third largest wool producer in the world. It produces so-called ZQ-certified wool, which is marketed as “the world’s leading ethical wool brand.”
Major consumer brands including Allbirds, Smartwood and Loro Piana use ZQ-certified merino wool, according to PETA.
PETA acknowledged that it did not contact Lauer about the alleged abuse at the farm.
“When we notify companies and individuals implicated in our investigations, their usual reaction is to deny, deflect, and downplay the cruelty uncovered,” a PETA spokesperson told The Post.
“Publicly releasing undercover investigations before notifying implicated parties, like Mr. Lauer, holds them responsible and makes it impossible for them to ignore the cruelty they have the power to stop.”
Digby Cochrane and his, wife Hannah, have operated Hunter Valley Farming for decades. The family said that Lauer has reached out to them in the past week to discuss PETA’s allegations.
“At shearing time we employ independent shearing contractors, to shear the sheep, who work in accordance with New Zealand industry accepted guidelines and practices,” the Cochranes said in a statement to The Post.
Lauer’s slice of paradise also features hiking trails and rustic rental lodges, an angus cattle farm and is the only thoroughfare to Hawea Conservation Park along Lake Hawea, which is stocked with salmon and trout.
Lauer’s $9.2 million lease agreement to acquire the property required him to invest $1.2 million into infrastructure for farm operations over five years and another $400,000 to clear and fertilize land for food, for any future increase in the cattle stock.
Hunter Valley was among 11 farms PETA investigators worked at during the past year, securing video footage and taking detailed notes that are part of a 48-page notarized affidavit, which was shared with The Post.
“The horrific abuse that was documented at Hunter Valley is typical across wool operations,” PETA’s Jacqu Sadashige, manager of corporate responsibility told The Post.
PETA’s report on Hunter Valley Farming included descriptions of sheep allegedly being cut during the shearing process as they struggle with handlers. Other alleged incidents involved the animals being lifted off the ground and dropped onto the hard floor, and then shoved through a shoot that leads to their pen.
“Sheep are routinely hit, beaten in the face, and stitched up with needle and thread with no pain medication.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
