Treatment of rodeo protesters condemned
WELLINGTON: The New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association (NZRCA) is condemning the treatment of protesters at Saturday’s MidNorthern event, saying it does not align with the values of rodeo.
Six antirodeo activists bought tickets and entered the MidNorthern grounds at Kokopu Block Rd on Saturday.
MidNorthern club member Dianna Bradshaw said the club had a strict no highdefinition cameras policy, which had been in place for over a year, and the group had already been asked twice not to film. She said when the activists began filming for a third time some spectators and cowboys became upset.
She said the demonstrators were being ‘‘obtuse’’ by refusing to comply with the club’s policy and some of them were evicted from the grounds.
Anti Rodeo Action NZ activist Josh Howell said their presence was announced over the speaker system, which escalated the situation.
‘‘People tried to block us. It was quite chaotic. I personally felt quite threatened.
‘‘People started getting cameras knocked out of their hands and pushed. I was being pushed. I was also attempted to be tripped up as we were leaving. We were being sworn at and shouted at.’’
Another activist, Claire McRae, said she began filming again after seeing a bull bucking in the chute.
‘‘When the bull riding started we saw that one of the animals looked quite agitated . . . and so I did pull out the camera again . . .
‘‘It was pretty intimidating. Very quickly we got surrounded. Someone was trying to wrestle my camera out of my hands and the guys behind me who were filming . . . got pushed and shoved as well.’’
NZRCA president Lyal Cocks said he could understand rodeo members’ frustrations.
‘‘I do understand from footage that some of the contestants or the people involved in the MidNorthern rodeo, through sheer frustration I expect, through misrepresentation and the continued attacks on rodeo, basically lowered their behaviour to that of the protest movement and interacted with them which is not the answer and not acceptable to the NZRCA.’’
He said this did not mean he condoned the behaviour.
‘‘I’m not justifying or condoning it but I understand their frustration and that’s not the way to deal with it.
‘‘I’m acknowledging that the behaviour was not acceptable. It’s not what rodeo’s all about.’’
He said rodeo had problems in the past with altered footage being shared on social media and misrepresenting the sport, which was why MidNorthern had the camera ban in place.
He also said allowing people to take their own photos made it hard for the professional photographers that were there.
‘‘We have accredited professional photographers at our rodeos . . . If you allow everyone to come in with [cameras] it dilutes their ability to carry out their role.’’
Mr Cocks said protesters had a right to protest, but was concerned that media coverage had been unbalanced.
He said he would ‘‘most probably’’ be contacting those identifiable in the footage directly.
A Facebook group called ‘‘Support New Zealand Rodeos’’ has posted a message ‘‘humbly apologising’’ for Saturday’s incident.
It said the treatment of protesters was ‘‘appalling’’.
‘‘We are deeply sorry that you had to withstand insults and terrible language by a group of people who frankly should know better. The majority of the rest of NZRCA competitors who have now seen this video and photos will be feeling the same as myself — deeply embarrassed to have people like this within our sport, sick to the stomach that our own people could speak to you like that and deeply shamed that this has occurred.’’
Mr Cocks said he supported the message. — RNZ