Animal welfare lobbyists say the Agriculture Minister is pandering to the pork industry, in spite of his desire to carry out changes to the industry.
David Carter has urged the pig industry to respond to animal welfare concerns and in particular to phase out the use of sow crates.
Mr Carter told a Pork Industry Board conference on Monday that it cannot afford to ignore genuine consumer concerns about some pig farming practices.
He says when the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee gave farmers a lead-in time of 2015 for its pig farming code, it allowed the industry to become complacent.
Mr Carter has requested the committee complete its review of the code by the end of this year.
He says the industry needs to acknowledge the widespread public dismay at the use of sow crates and start phasing out the extended use of sow crates.
The lobby group SAFE, which revealed harrowing details of life at a Levin piggery in May, says Mr Carter is not going far enough.
It says the minister has the power to change the welfare code governing pig farms and ban the crates altogether.
But Mr Carter says that would be a major change, and the law only allows him to make minor alterations.
