Agriculture Minister David Carter has reversed his decision to ban Jewish kosher killing of chicken in New Zealand.

Mr Carter based his initial call on the new Animal Welfare code from May, saying the practice, known as shechita, was inhumane as it involved slaughtering the animal without stunning it first.

His decision brought legal action from the Jewish community.

Mr Carter says his change of heart is due to access to kosher meat in New Zealand.

Chairman of the Wellington Jewish Council David Zwartz has welcomed the news.

“We’re happy that it’s been reached because we see it as fulfilling the law in terms of the human rights act.

There’s a great deal of relief that agreement was reached, although there’s more negotiation to be done about the killing of lamb.”

Slaughter limits for chicken and lamb are yet to be confirmed.