Banks links rodeo to family violence

THE root of Northland's violence problems is linked to a lack of respect toward animals, says Auckland Mayor John Banks.
On the eve of the Mid-Northern Rodeo, the former MP for Whangarei Mr Banks urged people not to attend the two-day event - which starts tomorrow in Maungatapere - labelling it "obscene" and "distressing for animals".
"Northland has a serious problem with violence. We are on an escalating path of violence with each other and this is reflected in violence towards animals," he said.
"There is a record level of violence towards women and children in Northland. If we don't condemn what is wrong, how do we teach young Northland children what is wrong?"
President of the Mid-Northern Rodeo Noel Upton rejected Mr Banks' comments and said the rodeo was not a violent event.
"I know what causes people to be wife beaters and child abusers and it's nothing to do with animals. They turn into violent people if they see humans being violent to each other," Mr Upton said.
"The so-called do-gooders that don't discipline their children and don't teach them what is right and wrong are the reason there are violent crimes.
"I wouldn't be involved in rodeos if I thought we were advertising violence."
Professor Fred Seymour, head of the psychology department at the University of Auckland, said although he could not link rodeos to evidence about violence, he thought it was possible the event could affect children.
"It's well researched that children imitate behaviour and, if they see another child or adult being aggressive or cruel to animals, then they are more likely to do the same," he said.
"I would think a child observing people being cruel to animals at a rodeo would become aggressive, especially as it's deemed acceptable for entertainment."
Professor Seymour, who is on the New Zealand Psychologists Board, said a child from a violent home was more likely to be affected by the rodeo.
"I think if a child that's already pre-disposed to violence then sees a rodeo they're more likely to become cruel to animals than a child that is taught at home to be kind to animals," he said.
"You could suppose though that the parents who teach their children to be kind to animals wouldn't take them to this kind of event anyway."
Mr Banks, who has whipped up a storm of debate by calling for rodeos to be banned in New Zealand, said only uneducated people would go to tomorrow's event.
"You don't see educated children pulling the wings off a butterfly for pleasure because their educated parents tell them it's wrong.
"Only bogans from rural settlements who have little respect for animals go and watch this so-called entertainment," Mr Banks said.