As the National Rodeo Finals kick off here on Saturday, a growing chorus of animal rights advocates is demanding an end to the sport, citing a mounting death toll and what they describe as inherent cruelty. Five animals have died during this rodeo season, intensifying calls for the government to ban the events.
Protesters, coordinated by the animal rights group SAFE, are gathering at the Kihikihi Domain in the Waikato region to highlight what they say is the urgent need for government intervention. The demonstration coincides with the release of graphic footage from last weekend’s Waimarino rodeo, showing a bull breaking its leg before being euthanised, becoming the fifth fatality of the season. Additional footage captured a distressing scene during the calf roping event, showing a horse and calf entangled and struggling on the ground.
“Five animals have died this rodeo season,” said Emily Hall, SAFE Campaign Manager. “It is simply unacceptable for animals to be suffering and dying for entertainment.”
The advocates argue that rodeo practices are fundamentally at odds with New Zealand’s animal welfare laws. They point to the Animal Welfare Act, which stipulates that animals must be handled in a way that minimizes the likelihood of unnecessary pain or distress.
“If animals were lassoed and slammed to the ground elsewhere there would be serious repercussions; why should it be any different in the rodeo arena?” Hall questioned.
Veterinarians and animal welfare agencies, both in New Zealand and internationally, have long condemned rodeo. Critics argue that the events subject animals to unnecessary stress, fear, and risk of injury.
The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) revised the rodeo code of welfare two years ago, but SAFE contends that the government has failed to take meaningful action, leaving a disconnect between the law and the reality of rodeo practices.
“These delays are costing animals their lives,” Hall stated. “At the finals [today], we will be sending a clear message to the Government that Kiwis want to see events that promote animal cruelty banned.”
The protest underscores a growing debate in New Zealand about the place of rodeo in a society that increasingly prioritizes animal welfare. While rodeo proponents argue it is a traditional sport and a part of rural culture, opponents maintain that it is an outdated and barbaric form of entertainment that has no place in modern New Zealand. The government’s response to the escalating calls for a ban will be closely watched.