Anti-rodeo protesters from Direct Animal Action (DAA) will protest outside the Mid Northern Rodeo in Whangārei this Saturday 6 January, calling for the Government to ban rodeo for good.
Apollo Taito, DAA spokesperson, says Whangārei’s Mid Northern Rodeo has a dark history of animal injuries and deaths in the arena, along with verbal and physical abuse of peaceful protestors.
“Every year we ask ourselves how many more animals will be injured or killed before the Government bans rodeo for good?
“Last rodeo season at the Mid Northern, a bull broke its leg and had to be euthanised. Unfortunately, we’re anticipating more animal injuries and deaths at the Mid Northern Rodeo this season.”
In November 2020, the Whangārei District Court found Northland farmer Derek Robinson guilty of ill-treating rodeo animals after he used a live electric prodder on two distressed steers.
The offenses took place at the Mid Northern Rodeo in two separate events, one in 2016 and the other in 2017.
“We’ve been protesting outside the Mid Northern Rodeo since 2016 and we’ve had a gutsful of animal abuse disguised as family entertainment that goes on inside this rodeo.
“In 2017 we were left shaken after a cowboy rode his horse at our group which included a small child and a woman in a wheelchair, and in 2019 we experienced verbal abuse, physical threats and intimidation from Mid Northern cowboys.
“We were really pleased when the Mid Northern Rodeo was cancelled in 2020 for financial reasons.
“What can we expect at this Saturday’s event? More animal injuries and deaths? More verbal and physical abuse of peaceful protestors? We’ve had enough.
“The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) have said they will bring forward a review of the Code of Welfare for Rodeo following a 2022 legal challenge of rodeo in the High Court by SAFE and the New Zealand Animal Law Association.
“NAWAC are talking about removing the worst aspects of rodeo, including spurring, calf roping, bull riding and steer wrestling. This can’t happen soon enough.
“If NAWAC follow through on this, it will effectively mean the end of rodeo in our country, including at Whangārei. It can’t happen soon enough.
“Every year, young calves, bulls and horses are bullied, abused and killed by so-called cowboys, all for the entertainment of a minority.
“There’s no place for rodeo in modern Aotearoa New Zealand,” said Mr Taito.
ENDS
What: ‘Ban Rodeo’ protest at Mid Northern Rodeo
When: Saturday 6 January, 12pm-1pm
Where: 32 Kokopu Block Road, Maungatapere, Whangārei
Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/3qtYmIWkL
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