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An 800kg bull named Thunder broke through a fence at theFar North rodeo in Kaitaia on 2 January in a desperateattempt to escape his torment in the rodeoarena.
Bulls are naturally social herd animals, yet inrodeo bull riding competitions they are singled out andprovoked into fearful, reactive behaviour for theentertainment of a small minority.
SAFE campaignmanager Emily Hall says rodeo holds no place in a societythat values compassion for animals, particularly as it ispromoted as a family friendly event.
"The pain andsuffering inherent in the rodeo industry is absolutelyappalling. During the last rodeo season five animals werekilled due to lameness, dislocated limbs, and other severeinjuries" says Hall.
"If animals were tormented andabused in this manner anywhere else there would be seriousrepercussions, so why is rodeo still getting a freepass?"
SAFE says Thunder’s desperate attempt toescape illustrates the torment of animals forced into therodeo arena, pointing to comments made by Far North rodeoclub president, Quinton King. Mr King has stated "He justwanted to get away. He wasn’t running towards people assuch, he was trying to run away."
Rodeo has long beencondemned by veterinarians and animal welfare agencies herein New Zealand and internationally. Most rodeo practicesviolate the Animal Welfare Act 1999 due to animals beingsubjected to extreme physical and psychologicaltrauma.
"Our Animal Welfare Act states that thephysical handling of animals must minimise the likelihood ofunnecessary pain and distress, yet rodeo practices depend onforce and rough handling" says Hall.
"We prideourselves on being a nation of animal lovers, so we mustmove away from events that subject animals to extreme stressand violence and instead focus on events that promotepositive community values."
With the National AnimalWelfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) currently preparing therevised Rodeo Code of Welfare, SAFE emphasises the updatedcode must bring the industry into line with the AnimalWelfare Act.
"The release of the revised Rodeo Code ofWelfare will allow Kiwis to voice their opinion on thefuture of cruel rodeo events" says Hall. "Publicconsultation is the vital next step."
SAFE isAotearoa’s leading animal rightsorganisation.
We're creating a future thatensures the rights of animals are respected. Our core workempowers society to make kinder choices for ourselves,animals and ourplanet.
Notes:
§Five animals were killed during the 2024/25 rodeo season,between 29 December 2024 and 15 March2025.
§ In July 2022, SAFE and theNew Zealand Animal Law Association (NZALA) jointly contestedrodeo in the High Court. The court ruled that the NationalAnimal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) must determineappropriate animal welfareguidelines.
§ NAWAC is due toapprove the final draft of the revised Rodeo Code of Welfareat it’s Mach 2026 quarterlymeeting.
§ Whilst vets are requiredto be on-site at all rodeo events, rodeo clubs are notobliged to report injuries or deaths sustained duringevents.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2...cape-highlights-urgent-need-for-rodeo-ban.htm
Bulls are naturally social herd animals, yet inrodeo bull riding competitions they are singled out andprovoked into fearful, reactive behaviour for theentertainment of a small minority.
SAFE campaignmanager Emily Hall says rodeo holds no place in a societythat values compassion for animals, particularly as it ispromoted as a family friendly event.
"The pain andsuffering inherent in the rodeo industry is absolutelyappalling. During the last rodeo season five animals werekilled due to lameness, dislocated limbs, and other severeinjuries" says Hall.
"If animals were tormented andabused in this manner anywhere else there would be seriousrepercussions, so why is rodeo still getting a freepass?"
SAFE says Thunder’s desperate attempt toescape illustrates the torment of animals forced into therodeo arena, pointing to comments made by Far North rodeoclub president, Quinton King. Mr King has stated "He justwanted to get away. He wasn’t running towards people assuch, he was trying to run away."
Rodeo has long beencondemned by veterinarians and animal welfare agencies herein New Zealand and internationally. Most rodeo practicesviolate the Animal Welfare Act 1999 due to animals beingsubjected to extreme physical and psychologicaltrauma.
"Our Animal Welfare Act states that thephysical handling of animals must minimise the likelihood ofunnecessary pain and distress, yet rodeo practices depend onforce and rough handling" says Hall.
"We prideourselves on being a nation of animal lovers, so we mustmove away from events that subject animals to extreme stressand violence and instead focus on events that promotepositive community values."
With the National AnimalWelfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) currently preparing therevised Rodeo Code of Welfare, SAFE emphasises the updatedcode must bring the industry into line with the AnimalWelfare Act.
"The release of the revised Rodeo Code ofWelfare will allow Kiwis to voice their opinion on thefuture of cruel rodeo events" says Hall. "Publicconsultation is the vital next step."
SAFE isAotearoa’s leading animal rightsorganisation.
We're creating a future thatensures the rights of animals are respected. Our core workempowers society to make kinder choices for ourselves,animals and ourplanet.
Notes:
§Five animals were killed during the 2024/25 rodeo season,between 29 December 2024 and 15 March2025.
§ In July 2022, SAFE and theNew Zealand Animal Law Association (NZALA) jointly contestedrodeo in the High Court. The court ruled that the NationalAnimal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) must determineappropriate animal welfareguidelines.
§ NAWAC is due toapprove the final draft of the revised Rodeo Code of Welfareat it’s Mach 2026 quarterlymeeting.
§ Whilst vets are requiredto be on-site at all rodeo events, rodeo clubs are notobliged to report injuries or deaths sustained duringevents.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2...cape-highlights-urgent-need-for-rodeo-ban.htm
