A competition where children chase a greased pig is cruel, according to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
More than 200 men, women and children took part in an annual hunting and fishing event in Katikati, 35km northwest of Tauranga, at the weekend.
Events included toss the possum,
pig-carrying, chasing a greased pig and bagging the heaviest pig, deer and fish.
Two years ago, the SPCA called for a ban on greased pig chasing, which it described as "animal abuse".
SPCA chief executive Peter Blomkamp said yesterday hunting and fishing events - particularly the greased pig competition - encouraged children to show disrespect towards animals.
"The poor animal is distressed and it's not a good thing," he said. "Kids should be taught to treat animals with care and attention."
Katikati hunters said the pig chasing for children taught them "basic survival skills".
Katikati Hunting Association's past president, Scott Stephenson, said animals were treated worse on farms than in the greasy pig competition.
"Sheep or cows being rounded up by barking dogs would be more stressed out than a pig being chased by some kids," he said.
The pig was penned and fed immediately after the event.
- NZPA
