Protesters to target Parklee Bullride rodeo in Hunterville

Shane Bird fronts the bull Lucky Strike after rider Lane Church has hit the ground. Photo / supplied

A Hunterville bullride event next week will attract hundreds and its protesters will be in a minority, organiser Shane Bird says.

The Parklee Bullride takes place in Aldworth Rd at 6pm on February 23. Adults will pay $15 to watch about 15 riders try to stay on top of bulls that have been trained to buck them off.

Organiser Shane Bird breeds the bulls on his Kimbolton farm and supplies them to about 17 rodeo events a year. He expects about 400 people to come to the show in Hunterville.

Save Animals From Exploitation (SAFE) is mobilising opposition to rodeos. Its campaigns manager Marianne Macdonald said there would be no SAFE protesters at the bullride, but local people have told her they will protest there.

Mr Bird has experienced protests at an event before, and said people stood peacefully outside on the road, with signs. He wasn't worried about that.

"They are not going to enter the property, because they will have to pay. They will have to stand on the side of the road and they will be trespassed straight away if they enter."

His bulls are bred to buck and he said New Zealand rodeos stuck to an animal welfare code and no one had ever been prosecuted for their practices.

But New Zealand's rodeo code of welfare is very weak, Ms Macdonald said. No one has been prosecuted but one man has been formally warned, after calves were subjected to electric shocks at a Northland rodeo last year.

Ministry for Primary Industries staff viewed footage taken by volunteers at 12 rodeos during the 2015-16 season. Ministry staff did find breaches of the welfare code, but said they were minor and they would not prosecute.

"While no prosecution action will be taken, it is considered that minor breaches of the Rodeo Code of Welfare did occur and there is room for improvement by the Rodeo Cowboy Association," their report said.

A Horizon Research poll has found 59 per cent of New Zealanders want an end to rodeo. Ms Macdonald said there were about 35 rodeo events a year in New Zealand, where animals were "tormented" to entertain a human minority.

People wanting to film rodeo practices have been banned from attendance, she said.

"Cowboys are telling the media they want people to come along and see for themselves what's happening and on the other hand rodeo is stopping people going in - so I'm wondering what it is they're wanting to hide."

The Waimarino Rodeo, on March 17-18 is usually the last in the New Zealand rodeo season. Ms Macdonald didn't know of anyone planning to protest there.