Laws promises to save rodeo

He labelled animal rights activists ‘‘crazies’’, warned veganism was becoming a cult, and promised to get pro-rodeo pamphlets into every school in New Zealand.

Former MP and rodeo campaigner Michael Laws pledged he would be the white knight that could save the rodeo from extinction for a fee of $25,000.

Laws’ candid remarks were during a presentation at the annual general meeting of the New Zealand Rodeo Cowboy Association in Auckland last year.

Minutes from the meeting show Laws offering a bleak assessment of the rodeo’s future, but he offered a glimmer of hope.

‘‘Anti-rodeo people are crazies and do not put up rational debates,’’ Laws told the meeting.

‘‘There is nothing we can do to counter their craziness, we just need to be better than them at getting our message out there.’’

If the rodeo association ‘‘ignored the threat that is looming for our sport, then in five years it will no longer exist’’.

‘‘Veganism has formed cult-like movements that do not want animals to be used for anything.’’

Laws told the meeting he would run the campaign for $25,000, with a ‘‘multi pronged’’ approach to convince politicians current legislation is working and is right, convince sponsors that the anti-rodeo propaganda is wrong, and distribute age appropriate pamphlets and video to all schools in the country to be used as a teaching resource.

In an interview last week, Laws defended his comments.

He said he was in no way embarrassed about his statements.

A vociferous anti-rodeo campaigner, Direct Animal Action spokesman Apollo Taito, laughed off suggestions members of his organisation were ‘‘crazies’’.

‘‘Last time I had a look in the mirror I wasn’t crazy,’’ he said.

‘‘Unlike Michael Laws, I do not get paid but I think this is pretty important.’’

New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association national president Lyal Cocks stood by the decision to engage Laws.

‘‘We engaged Michael to deal with media and politicians and he has been very useful.

‘‘He has got the contacts and knowledge.’’

Cocks said the $25,000 investment was worthwhile, but not sustainable.