15/02/2019

On Saturday, anti-rodeo protesters will demonstrate outside the Waikato Rodeo in Kihikihi holding tombstone shaped placards with “RIP” written on them.

Protest organisers are feeling angry and frustrated following known four animal deaths in rodeo over 2018.

A bull died at Martinborough Rodeo in March, a horse died at Methven Rodeo in October and both a horse and bull died at Gisborne Rodeo in December.

Direct Animal Action spokesperson Apollo Taito says the group has had enough of needless deaths at rodeos and they are running out of patience with the Labour-led Government’s lack of action.

“Labour made a promise before the election to ban the worst aspects of rodeo (1).

“It’s a good first step that they had the National Animal Welfare Committee (NAWAC) take a closer look at rodeo last year (2). But they’ve done absolutely nothing to follow up on this while animals continue dying at the rodeo. "The rodeo cowboys attempts at self regulation are clearly not working and are in fact a sick joke. This is not the solution we need.
“We are really pleased to see that Green MP Gareth Hughes will be tabling a private members bill that would ban using small calves and animal wrestling. This is an important step in the right direction.

“But we still need to see Labour take this seriously. We’ve had a gutsful of animals dying for entertainment at rodeos. How many more animals need to die before Labour follow through on their pre-election promise?

“We’re just hoping there’ll be no deaths at the Waikato Rodeo this weekend” said Mr Taito.

1. https://www.animalagenda2017.org.nz/party-positions-labour
2. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1810/S00217/animal-welfare-in-rodeo-practices-report-released.htm

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