Minister Meka Whaitiri restates no rodeo ban stance

Bull riding at Porangahau in January attracted at least 800 spectators. Photo / Duncan Brown

Hawke's Bay-based Minister of Animal Welfare and Associate Minister of Agriculture Meka Whaitiri has reiterated that the Labour-led coalition Government will not ban rodeos, but it is prepared to keep an open mind on the subject.

The stance came on Wednesday night at the launch of a report prepared by the New Zealand Animal Law Association, a report and launch dismissed by the New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Riders Association as a "stunt" by activists to try "back-door" methods after being unable to budge the Government for the outlawing of a sport said to attract New Zealand audiences of over 100,000 a year.

In speech notes prepared for the launch, Ms Whaitiri said she would not consider a ban, but at the launch said she was not looking at a ban "at this stage" but if new evidence becomes available she will at least consider the evidence.

At least four rodeos or bull-riding events have been held in Hawke's Bay in recent months.

The MP for Maori electorate Ikaroa Rawhiti, Ms Whaitiri said that in the Government's five months in office she had asked ministerial advisory group the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee to look at rodeos more closely, including the use of calves, electric prodders, flank straps, tail twisting, and rope burning.

She has, however, moved to ban the use of electric prodders on cattle under 150kg, which she says will stop the use of electric prodders on calves at rodeos.

Ms Whaitiri said the committee, set up under the Animal Welfare Act and separate from Government, will also report by the end of May on the animal welfare implications of each rodeo event, such as bronc riding, bull and steer riding, roping events, and steer wrestling.

She said she had also asked the Ministry for Primary Industries to review the Animal Law Association report "in the context of NAWAC's work".

"Any action in relation to rodeos will involve a full public consultation, and I can assure you I would want to hear all voices and opinions," she said. "This coalition Government wants free and open access for interest groups and stakeholders across the country. This is a government that will practise transparency in its decision making."