The international rodeo at Claudelands last November sold out and organisers are keen to repeat it. Photo / Supplied
Calls for a blanket ban on rodeo-style events appears to have been ignored under a Hamilton City Council draft policy, to the dismay of animal rights activists.
The Save Animals From Exploitation group wants the council to follow Auckland's lead and include a ban on rodeos in its new event
venues booking policy, which is to be discussed by the council's Strategy and Policy Committee tomorrow.
Under the draft policy - which would apply to all events at council-owned facilities including Claudelands Event Centre and Waikato Stadium - events would be banned if they breached any New Zealand legislation, national codes, council bylaws or policy or had a significant and direct negative impact on the community that could not be offset.
If an event was deemed by staff to fall outside the policy, either the chief executive or the political wing would be tasked with deciding whether it should go ahead.
In February SAFE presented a 266-signature petition to the council and was told its position on rodeos would be considered as part of the policy review.
