Protesters wage war outside bull ride
‘‘They are making lies up to get more support to ban rodeos. ’’
Shane Bird, rodeo organiser
Anti-rodeo protesters waged war outside a Manawatu¯ bull ride amid increasing public concern over animal cruelty and growing national momentum to ban the pastime.
The Wellington Animal Rights Network staged the protest at the Parklee Bullride in Kimbolton on Saturday.
Green Party animal welfare spokesperson Gareth Hughes this month announced a private member’s bill to ban calf roping and the use of flank straps. While Lions Club New Zealand has withdrawn sponsorship of rodeos nationwide.
Wellington Animal Rights Network spokeswoman Jasmine Gray said rodeo-type activities had continued in the name of ‘‘fun’’ for too long.
The playbook of protesters is becoming familiar to Parklee Bullride organiser Shane Bird, namely the use of selective footage presented in an emotive manner via social media.
While the forces opposed now have a champion in the form of Hughes, studies from Calvary University in the United States show bulls display signs of excitment when bucking in rodeos, rather than distress and torture, Bird said.
‘‘They [protesters] are making lies up to get more support to ban rodeos,’’ Bird said.
‘‘If you take selective clips from a rodeo, put them over emotional music and play it on social media to people that have never been to a rodeo then of course it looks worse.’’
He didn’t think it was wellrecognised that most of the animals were specially bred and expertly trained for these events, and were well looked after.
In a Facebook post last week, Hughes said that rodeos belonged in the history books, not in modern New Zealand.
‘‘Tormenting animals in the name of entertainment is a cruel practice and it should be banned. I’m working on a members’ bill to outlaw it.’’
Gray said she had noticed growing numbers at anti-rodeo protests around New Zealand this season. Many of those included people from rural communities.
Gray said the network had campaigned against rodeos since 2015. This season they have protested in Taupo¯ and are planning to head to rodeos in Martinborough, Hunterville, and Feilding.