Protest against cruelty at Urenui Rodeo

A protest is planned for the upcoming Urenui Rodeo.

Animal rights group SAFE is concerned that animals will be "tormented" during the upcoming Urenui Rodeo.

The group is urging people to email the Prime Minister to ask for a rodeo ban and for Taranaki residents to avoid the popular rodeo.

SAFE campaigns manager Marianne Macdonald says the recent death of a bull after his leg was broken at the Martinborough rodeo, has created widespread public outrage. Protests have been held outside many events, including the Outram, Canterbury, Taupo, Kihikihi and Warkworth rodeos.

"Rodeo events cause suffering for all the animals involved, especially the calves that are roped and ridden." Marianne says young calves are used in brutal calf roping events which cause great stress to the animals.

"Vulnerable young calves are wrenched off their feet, thrown to the ground and have their legs tied together. To be singled out and chased is terrifying for a herd animal. Obvious signs of stress such as bellowing, showing the whites of their eyes, their tongue hanging out and panting, are all quite common. Science shows that rodeo has a harmful effect on young animals when they are roped."

Marianne says the most robust study on calf roping to date was not taken into account when the government select committee reviewed rodeo cruelty last year.

Funded by an Australian rodeo association, the 2016 study concluded that calf roping causes an "acute stress response".

"Young animals are being bullied for entertainment, and even when calves survive without physical injury, they have been put through emotional trauma."

Marianne says New Zealand's code of welfare for rodeo is very weak legislation which allows animals to be subjected to unnecessary stress and risk of injury.

"Just as our society is trying to stamp out bullying to young people, caring Kiwis also want an end to the bullying of animals. Rodeo's time is up. This cruelty will soon be consigned to the history books."