Blow up dolls and cowboys
‘‘Sex doll’’, ‘‘calf roping’’ and ‘‘abuse’’ were all terms used in a recent proposal to the Rodney Local Board.
Anti-Rodeo Action NZ fronted at the board to call for them to deny landowner approval for any future rodeos held by the Warkworth Rodeo Club following their antics at their last event.
Anti-Rodeo representatives Lynn Charlton and Jean Barton said at the last Warkworth rodeo in February a ‘‘blow up doll’’ was involved in the children’s lolly scramble and the campaigners said they witnessed inappropriate calf roping and steer-wrestling events that went over the required 30-second limit.
The claims were disputed by New Zealand Rodeo Cowboy Association’s animal welfare officer, Gary Jackson.
The group said the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) had determined several minor breaches at Warkworth and other rodeos over the past year.
‘‘The sex doll was sexualised, with talk about a honeymoon and being referred to as Nymphy and a girlfriend,’’ Charlton said.
‘‘The club also failed to release the animals that attempted to jump from the chutes and were seen hitting, kicking and shocking them.’’
Charlton told the board that at one of the events: ‘‘We were able to film what was going on but had to deal with people purposely standing in front of the camera. The breaches are for entertainment and we should not support