Oh No, New Zealand's Rodeo Woes

In late 2014, the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries released a revised Code of Welfare specifically for rodeos, replacing a 2003 code. The new code, among other things, banned the use of sheep. Sheep primarily had been used in a sheep riding event, also called “mutton busting,” in which children would ride sheep as grown men rode horses and steers, for as long as they could hang on. The change was prompted in part by public agitation, orchestrated by animal rights groups, claiming the event was cruel and the animals abused. In 2012, the New Zealand Veterinary Association had recommended the event be banned and 2014, it was.

In 2015, Craig Wiggins, a rodeo commentator and former cowboy, told The Timaru Herald, “New Zealand historically had sheep rides; there was no pressure to stop. We decided to be professional.”

Wiggins had earlier noted that rodeo – organized by the New Zealand Rodeo Cowboy Association – was a government-controlled, legal sport. Animal rights activists, Wiggins said, “are entitled to their opinion."

Change in rodeo, however, is no simple government affair. In the past few years the Ministry for Primary Industries has investigated a handful of violations at rodeos across New Zealand. In 2015, the Kakahi Rodeo in Whanganui, on the country’s north island, came under fire for a sheep chasing event.

Secretary-treasurer of the Kakahi Rodeo, Raewyn West, told Stuff.co.nz, that the rodeo had not realized it was illegal to have sheep at the rodeo.

When the 2014 revised code was released, the chairwoman of the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), Virginia Williams, said, “There are a number of new or heightened requirements in the code to better protect animal welfare – most significantly, the use of sheep in rodeos is no longer allowed, nor are fireworks or other pyrotechnics.”

In place of sheep rides or chases, last year the Kakahi Rodeo had clowns drag bags of wool around for children to chase. This year they plan on having children chase men dressed as sheep.

While activists are pleased by the decision, for many it’s not enough. Marianne Macdonald, spokeswoman for SAFE (Save Animals From Exploitation), a New Zealand animal rights group, reacted positively to the man-dressed-as-sheep substitution in comments to Newstalk ZB, saying, “It sounds like they're coming up with good ways of avoiding cruelty to animals so I'm all in favor with that.” But, she went on, “The trouble with rodeo is really, however you make little changes to it, it's still really just abusing animals for fun and that's really what it comes down to.”

While sheep riding and chasing are making headlines at present – mostly because of the novelty – there are deeper abuses at play.

In late January a video surfaced apparently depicting calves being poked with electric prods, which are banned for use on calves, at the Mid Northern Rodeo near Whangarei. At least five major sponsors of the Mid Northern Rodeo have withdrawn: three real estate companies, a building supply company, and a concrete supplier. The Ministry for Primary Industries is investigating the video and the alleged violation.

Animal rights activists have had success in shutting down rodeos by organizing boycotts – the calculation is simple, without spectators or the money they spend the rodeo cannot continue. Last September, the Richmond rodeo shut down and earlier the Auckland City Council decided to stop all rodeo activities on city land. A handful of others have been targeted with boycotts or allegations of abuse. The New Zealand Herald reported that the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), which exists within the Ministry for Primary Industries, “admitted having reservations about the performance of rodeos” and pointed out that many companies had withdrawn sponsorship of rodeo events.

Last March SAFE delivered a petition to ban rodeo to Parliament with more than 62,000 signatures. Macdonald said, “It is time to focus on teaching values of respect and compassion to impressionable children, showing them that tormenting animals is not a part of Kiwi culture.”

In a recent interview, Macdonald referred to rodeo as “something that has been brought from overseas.”

West, from the Kakahi Rodeo, disagreed, characterizing the rodeo as a strong part of the rural community. The New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association lists rodeo champions going back to 1972. Rodeo has its roots in America but the key ingredients – horses, riders, ranching – are long-established in Australia and New Zealand. Bushmen's Carnivals were organized in neighboring Australia as far back as the 1920s, and before that the National Agricultural Society of Victoria organized roughriding competitions as far back as 1888.