To: Rodney Local Board

Stop the Warkworth Rodeo

On 21 October 2020 we handed over our petition to Auckland Council's Rodney Local Board, calling on them to stop leasing the Warkworth Showgrounds to the Warkworth Rodeo and to no longer host rodeo on any council land, parks and reserves under their management.

You can see photos of yesterday's petition hand over and presentation at our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/DirectAnimalAction/photos/pcb.1970228553118875/1970228523118878/

Our petition was signed by over 5000 people! Thanks to each and every one of you for supporting us by signing and sharing!

We also presented to the Rodney Local Board for 10 minutes, highlighting the tide of public opinion against rodeo and advocating that they show progressive leadership by catching up with the rest of Auckland on the issue of rodeo.

We know that the Rodney Local Board have already approved the showgrounds lease for the Warkworth Rodeo to be held there on 1st January 2021. We'll be there to protest and we're just hoping no animals will be injured or killed at this year's event.

Keep an eye on our Facebook for our rodeo protests events happening over summer which we'll be promoting soon. We hope to see you there!

Thank you for helping to make it happen,
Romina and Stephanie of Direct Animal Action

We, the undersigned, urge you to ban the Warkworth Rodeo and other rodeo events on council land, parks and reserves under the management of your local board.

Why is this important?

The Rodney Local Board is now the only local board in Auckland which continues to host rodeo on land under their management. The Warkworth Rodeo occurs every New Years Day at Warkworth Showgrounds. This is a decision made by the local board.

Each year the controversy and public debate heightens around rodeo and its inherent animal welfare issues. Modern perspectives on the treatment of animals is causing rodeo's social license to wear thin.

A 2018 report by the New Zealand Animal Law Association found rodeo to be illegal in New Zealand.

Former Green Party MP Gareth Hughes tabled a private members bill that will amend the Animal Welfare Act to outlaw the rodeo activities that cause the most pain and distress to animals - specifically calf roping, steer wrestling and the use of flank straps.

Every year since 2016, large protests have been held outside the Warkworth Showgrounds during the Warkworth Rodeo event.

Over the 2018/19 rodeo season, three horses and one bull lost their lives in New Zealand rodeo arenas.

Rodeo stands out in our country amongst events using animals, as being the only practice where animals are intentionally goaded and harassed to show behaviours they would normally only display under extreme stress.

It has already been banned in parts of Europe, Australia, Brazil, Canada and the U.S, and there is a partial ban in the U.K.

Animal abuse in the guise of entertainment is no longer acceptable in modern society. There is no place for rodeo in New Zealand.

References:

NZALA Press Release; “Rodeo is Illegal”
http://nzala.org/nzala-press-release-21-march-2018/

Green Party of New Zealand Aotearoa: Let's outlaw the worst rodeo practices
https://www.greens.org.nz/rodeo_animals_protection_bill

Political Roundup: Should rodeos be banned in New Zealand? by Bryce Edwards
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12192026

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How it will be delivered

Our petition will be delivered to the Rodney Local Board on 21 October 2020.

Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL

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Links

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Updates

2020-10-20 16:19:48 +1300

5,000 signatures reached

2019-10-14 15:02:33 +1300

1,000 signatures reached

2019-09-05 14:28:55 +1200

500 signatures reached

2019-07-29 20:27:10 +1200

100 signatures reached

2019-07-29 18:11:12 +1200

50 signatures reached

2019-07-29 16:35:33 +1200

25 signatures reached

2019-07-29 15:49:25 +1200

10 signatures reached