MEDIA RELEASE

Embargoed until 6am, 23 November 2012

Anti-Rodeo Message Taken Directly to Council

Hamilton City Councillors will receive a hard-hitting message this Friday with a powerful protest from animal advocacy group SAFE and locals proclaiming ‘Rodeos are animal abuse and your council supports it’. The provocative message highlights the council’s support of animal cruelty, with the revelation that the council provided financial support to rodeo organisers.

SAFE is taking the 6 metre x 3 metre billboard directly to Hamilton City Council, ahead of the International Rodeo on Saturday.

“Last week SAFE revealed that not only has the council set a policy that allows cruel events on council land, but they spent ratepayers money on it too, by funding the rodeo in 2011. SAFE is joining locals today in protesting against this animal abuse,” says SAFE Campaign manager Mandy Carter.

“Animals in rodeo suffer. Our new footage, shot at last year’s Hamilton International Rodeo, shows just how much stress and fear they are experiencing. Animals don’t want to perform – they are confused and afraid. It’s certainly no fun for them, says Ms Carter. “We hope this public message will make the council think again about their events policy. With the rodeo code of welfare also under review right now, the spotlight is on animal cruelty more than ever.”

The international rodeo was also held in Dunedin last weekend, although Mayor Dave Cull has indicated sympathy for the animals’ cause. SAFE will be talking to Dunedin Council, asking them to join Auckland Council in making a commitment to banning all future events of this type.

Rodeo code under review

The government is taking public submissions on the draft Code of Welfare for rodeos until 26 November, and SAFE is calling for a total ban on this brutal 'sport', saying no welfare code can alter the inherently cruel and exploitative nature of rodeo events. SAFE is asking the public to make their own submission by visiting safe.org.nz

“Being a nation of animal lovers means most of us can’t stand such cruelty to animals. If you live in a town hosting one of these brutal events, steer clear of the rodeo. It isn’t ‘entertainment’ for the animals. It’s time to bring this brutal spectacle to an end,” says Ms Carter.

SAFE ACTION
SAFE’s colourful protest with a 6 metre x 3 metre sign, funky cows and horses will begin at 12pm on Friday 23 November, Garden Place, Hamilton CBD.

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Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>