NZ Rodeo and Cowboys Association are delighted with the announcement of associate agriculture minister Hon. Meka Whaitiri, that she has asked officials to investigate whether animal welfare at rodeos can be improved.

“ Our organisation has always played a constructive role in improving rodeo practises and we will play that same role again. We may be the most scrutinised sport in New Zealand, but we also know that our efforts over recent years have improved both animal and human safety at rodeo events.

“ There have been no reports of any breaches of the Rodeo Code this season. That is a measure of the professionalism of our athletes and administrators.”

National spokesperson Michael Laws said that the Rodeo Code and animal welfare was at the heart of good rodeo practice.

“ In 2014, and again in 2016, Parliament and policymakers inquired into rodeo from an animal welfare perspective and pronounced themselves satisfied. We expect a similar outcome, but we’ll always look at the science and improving practises.

“Some of those mentioned by the minister today are illegal, whilst others cause the animal neither harm nor distress.”

Mr Laws said that the associate minister’s public assurance that the government “was not looking to ban rodeos is a very positive statement indeed.”

“The minister rightly recognises the importance of rodeo to rural communities throughout New Zealand.”

ENDS

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