Anti-rodeo debate part of a bigger national divide

An anti-rodeo petition handed into Parliament recently is evidence of a bigger national divide between urban and rural Kiwis, says a Rodeo New Zealand spokesperson.

Gary Jackson, a long-time member and president of the rodeo association, believes the rift between urban and rural New Zealand is constantly growing.

“We [in the rural world] are a shrinking demography. The old ways of people hunting for meat to fill their cupboards is less,” said Mr Jackson.

Mr Jackson said 120,000 people watch rodeos every year, with ages ranging from six to 70, and that represents a cross-section of the nation that urban centres have forgotten.

From a cultural standpoint, Mr Jackson also said they had a strong group of young Maori who were involved, and being a part of rodeos helped young people stay out of trouble.

“Look at these kids up the coast, what do they do? Not a lot. Fishing and hunting, it gives them something to invest in. We keep them disciplined, and it is something that keeps them on the rails.”

Green MP Mojo Mathers said the 62,000 signatures on the anti-rodeo petition shows the nation is full of people who care about animals and see rodeo as an outdated practice that causes harm and suffering.

“I would like to see recognition that the harm rodeo does is unacceptable, and that practices such as using an electric prod or rope burning to force animals into the ring is not acceptable,” Ms Mathers said.

Mr Jackson worked on the team who wrote the Rodeo New Zealand code of ethics in 1992, which has since been reviewed.

He said their quality control is about as stringent as it can be, and that there were penalties for cowboys who transgress and jerk their calves over backwards.

“From a public perception standpoint, I agree, I don’t like the look of things sometimes, but it is absolute tripe about the injuries they discussed.”

Mr Jackson recognised there are two completely different ideologies at play, and that there is a right to differing opinions, however he believed some of the protesters were not aware of the ways of life in rural New Zealand.

Ric Odom, the CEO for SPCA New Zealand, said that rodeos only entertain people and provide no benefit for animals.

“We know that animals die, and though there are no figures kept we strongly suspect there are many injuries.”

Mr Odom said that animals can be seen in the chutes before entering the arena, panicking and submitting, and are prodded to get back up.

“I do admit the footage submitted to us is the worst, but even so, it still happens and this is not acceptable in this day and age. It isn’t a justification to allow it to go on.”