'Mongrels' who burnt Northland dogs should be named and shamed, says Shane Jones

Two Northland pig dogs were burned alive after this Toyota Hilux utility vehicle was stolen from Broadwood, 48km south east of Kaitaia.

Cabinet Minister Shane Jones wants 'the mongrels' who burnt two pig dogs to death after torching a stolen ute to be named and shamed.

Two pig dogs were burned alive after thieves stole a ute and torched it last Friday.

Chad Scrivener, 22 and his brother, Theo, 24, from Broadwood, 48km southeast of Kaitaia, had set the ute up on their Awaroa Rd property on Friday night for a hunting trip.

The dogs were sleeping in dog boxes on the ute's tray when it was stolen. The thieves crashed the ute in Awaroa Rd, and later set it alight with the dogs still inside.

Chad Scrivener, 22 and his brother, Theo, 24, from Broadwood had their ute stolen and burned with two dogs inside.

Ahipara Fire Brigade officer in charge Dave Ross has described the fire as an "absolutely despicable" act.

Mr Jones said he understood the names of those responsible had been passed on to police.

''I'd like the mongrels responsible for this despicable, bestial act to be named and shamed. I want the community to know who these creeps are.

"If they can do this to animals, the next step could be people,'' Mr Jones, the Minister for Economic Development, said.

''The Hokianga is a beautiful place with a lot of history and to have this vile thing happen locally taints all of us.

"It may sound extreme coming from a minister of the Crown, but I think this community needs to have confidence that the people in power will stand up and call out grossness of this despicable act."