Opotiki Rodeo

The annual Opotiki Rodeo, which has been tossing around cowboys for more than 50 years, lived up to its reputation of being the best in the business. This year's event remembered the late Dion Church, a rodeo champion who died suddenly of a heart attack in September.

Mervyn Church jnr hits the deck hard during yesterday's Opotiki Rodeo.

Image 1 of 2: Mervyn Church jnr hits the deck hard during yesterday's Opotiki Rodeo.