Far North Rodeo crowd scatters as 800kg bull breaks fence

An escapee bull from a Kaitāia rodeo prompted some people to question why the sport was still allowed.

An errant 800kg bull named Thunder struck panic when he ran through the crowd at a Far North Rodeo event.

A video shared online showed spectators on a grassy knoll outside of the arena scattering as Thunder forced a weak spot in the fence and fled up the same hill.

People could be heard swearing and asking one another where the bull had gone.

Thunder was filmed standing for a short while in a fenced corner, just behind where the spectators were. He then took a few steps toward where the person was videoing, prompting more expletives.

However, rodeo staff can be seen ushering the bull away from the crowd into a fenced-off paddock near the venue’s portaloos.

Thunder’s escape was short-lived, Far North Rodeo Club president Quinton King saying the bull was only out for a few minutes before being quickly rounded up by rodeo staff.

No injuries were reported.

King said Thunder was an intelligent beast who had been determined to get out.

“He just wanted to get away. He wasn’t running towards people as such, he was trying to run away. He ran up to the back, under a tree, to try to avoid people.”

King explained the bull’s escape was one of those things that could happen despite best practice.

He said to run a rodeo, specs are required for fencing, which is checked annually.

“Most bulls are fine, but every now and then you get one that is just bad and will always look for a way out.”

King reported Thunder had been “a bit bad last year” and had this year kept testing the fence.

“... [He] managed to find a weak spot and forced his way out.”

King said most bulls learn that the fence is a barrier and are trained not to go through them.

King said most bulls wouldn’t keep testing a fence like that for weak spots but one like Thunder could sometimes end up making a weak spot.

“They can flip a car with their power if they wanted to.”

King said the rest of the rodeo, in front of the biggest crowd for quite a few years, went without a hitch.

“The weather was perfect ... it was such a great day.”

The video prompted some people to question why rodeos were still allowed.

The sport has attracted controversy in New Zealand.

Animal welfare group Save Animals From Exploitation (Safe) actively campaigns against rodeos.

The organisation believes rodeo is a cruel form of entertainment that breaches New Zealand’s Animal Welfare Act because of distress and injuries to animals involved.

Ministry for Primary Industries director of compliance and response Glen Burrell last year told RNZ that rodeos must operate under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and relevant codes of welfare, including the 2018 code of welfare for rodeos.

He said these required animals to undergo welfare checklists, have veterinarians on-site and animal welfare inspectors also attended all major rodeos throughout the season and recorded serious injuries.

Associate Agriculture Minister for animal welfare Andrew Hoggard confirmed to RNZ while attending a 2025 rodeo in Waikato that he was satisfied with measures being carried out under the codes system.

Far North Rodeo Club is one of 30 around the country affiliated with the NZ Rodeo Cowboys Association.