However, rodeo events have come under increasing pressure from animal groups and the SAFE video has led to a number of sponsors withdrawing their support, including LJ Hooker, Placemakers and Ray White.
Ms Macdonald said normally docile bulls were induced into "aggressive behaviour by painful or irritating means such as flank straps, electric prods, tail twisting, and painful spurs leading to aggravated and enraged animals and vulnerable calves are put through the stress of being ridden".
Mr Bird believes that view stems from a lack of knowledge of the sport. "Most of these people have probably never set foot on a farm or handled these animals."
He said the public shouldn't rush to judgment and invited those concerned to attend the events.
"If you believe what you've read on Facebook without actually going there, then quite frankly you've got rocks in your head." He says tools such as spurs and flank straps did not hurt the animal and although tail twisting was practiced in the past, NZ Rodeo has now forbidden it.
The use of electric prods was only to move the bull from one place to another.
He said the shows were carefully monitored by veterinarians. "They have a lot of power - any sign of injury and the animal is removed."
Last year the NZ Veterinary Association raised concerns, and called for a re-evaluation of the rodeo code of welfare.
Last year a bull and horse died during the rodeo season, with two bulls dying in the previous season.
A petition to Parliament to ban rodeo gathered 62,000 signatures last year and a Horizon poll also found 59% of respondents were in favour of a rodeo ban.
