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To: Hon Meka Whaitiri and the House of Representatives

Ban the worst aspects of rodeo in Aotearoa New Zealand

We, the undersigned, call on the Associate Minister of Agriculture (Animal Welfare) Hon Meka Whaitiri to prohibit, on behalf of the House of Representatives, the use of bucking (flank) straps, electric prods, tail twisting, spurs, animal wrestling, team roping and the use of calves under 12 months old in Aotearoa New Zealand rodeo events.

Why is this important?

We're creating a future that ensures the rights of animals are respected and that they are no longer exploited for entertainment.

Rodeos force animals to perform in various events in which ‘cowboys’ chase, wrestle, rope and ride calves, steers, bulls and horses.

Animals used in rodeos are not wild animals. Usually calm bulls and horses are induced into aggressive behaviour by painful or irritating means such as bucking straps pulled tight around their hindquarters, electric prods, tail twisting and painful spurs – leading to aggravated and frightened animals who buck wildly. Terrified calves are chased and roped around the neck before being thrown to the ground.

Rodeos are condemned both in New Zealand and internationally by veterinarians, animal welfare agencies and ex-rodeo riders. A number of countries have banned the practice, and in many countries, specific events such as calf roping and steer wrestling are outlawed on the grounds that they are cruel.

The animals used in rodeos are stressed and frightened, unaware that it’s ‘just for entertainment.’ In addition to the distress rodeo events cause them, animals used can sustain injuries such as torn ligaments, broken bones, bruising and internal damage. In some cases, these injuries are so severe the animals die or are euthanised on site. Two bulls were killed in rodeos during the 2019/20 season. There are no public records on the number of animals killed and injured in rodeo training sessions.

In 2018, the Government’s animal welfare advisors, the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), published a report entitled ‘Rodeo events – How do they impact the sentient animal?’ This report said NAWAC had ‘serious concerns’ over the ‘substantial negative impacts’ on animals that are used in steer wrestling and calf roping. They also said that bucking events, which use horses, bulls and steers, ‘have a variety of negative impacts’ on the animals.

With such serious concerns and negative impacts highlighted by the Government’s own animal welfare advisors, it’s time for this cruelty to end.

We’re Kiwis, not ‘cowboys.’ Help us make this rodeo’s last season.

WATCH to see how animals are treated in New Zealand rodeos
https://vimeo.com/476952416/066b723d43

READ - https://safe.org.nz/our-work/animals-in-need/rodeo/ - about the stress and suffering inflicted on animals in the various rodeo events

DONATE [https://safe.org.nz/donate-now/donate/] to our campaign to end rodeo cruelty

By signing this petition your information will be shared with SAFE, who will get in contact from time to time about this campaign and others. You are free to opt out at any time.

How it will be delivered

SAFE will present the petition to the House of Representatives at Parliament.

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Updates

2021-02-09 09:56:27 +1300

5,000 signatures reached

2020-12-05 05:39:55 +1300

1,000 signatures reached

2020-12-03 17:51:23 +1300

500 signatures reached

2020-12-03 12:49:02 +1300

100 signatures reached

2020-11-29 14:28:51 +1300

50 signatures reached

2020-11-28 15:11:35 +1300

25 signatures reached

2020-11-28 10:16:43 +1300

10 signatures reached