NZ rodeo final draws crowds, protesters and a satisfied minister responsible for animal welfare

The welfare of animals involved in rodeos continue to divide those in the sport and animal rights activists.

More than 13,000 people headed to the Kihikihi Domain in Waikato on Saturday for the National Rodeo Finals, including animal rights protesters.

Late-entry punters to the event were turned away when the site hit capacity, exceeding the 8000 attendees the Waikato Rodeo Association was expecting.

Eight of the top competitors across divisions - including saddle bronc riding, barrel racing and steer wrestling - took to the arena with their stock, following 30 contests throughout this year's rodeo season.

Ross Dowling of Alexandra took out the All Around Cowboy national title for 2025.

Other winners included Brett McCorkindale for bareback, Lane Whitelock for saddle bronc, Brooke Atkinson for barrel racing, and Sophie Smith for breakaway roping.

Dowling, who is also the New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys' Association's admin director, said rodeo was growing in New Zealand and abroad.

"There are even discussions around new rodeo events happening throughout New Zealand," he said.

"It's growing and it wouldn't grow without the good support from competitors and from rural and urban New Zealand."

Ministry for Primary Industries director of compliance and response Glen Burrell said rodeos must operate under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and relevant codes of welfare, including the 2018 code of welfare for rodeos.

He said these required animals to undergo welfare checklists, have veterinarians on-site and animal welfare inspectors also attended all major rodeos throughout the season and recorded serious injuries.

"Two bulls were euthanised due to injuries sustained in the arena at their events [through the season]. A bronc was euthanised as a result of injuries, but we haven't determined yet if those injuries were event-related," Burrell said.

The New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys' Association said there had been three rodeo-related animal deaths, while SAFE believed there had been five deaths associated with rodeo this year.

Dowling said it was too early for statistics on injuries.

"I think last season we had of all the animals used in run was 0.01 percent of serious injuries. And we don't shy away from the fact that unfortunately this year we have had three animal deaths, tragic as it is," he said.

"Accidents do happen."

SAFE organised what it called a "peaceful protest" of 23 people with placards at the gates of the domain.

The group renewed calls to ban rodeos in Aotearoa which it described as "a brutal form of entertainment" in Aotearoa.

Campaign manager Emily Hall said she didn't dispute the fact that attendance remained high at these events.

"Just because people are going to something, doesn't mean it's okay, so events that promote animal violence should be banned," she said.

"We should be focusing on community events where people are able to gather together and celebrate things that they are all passionate about that doesn't involve violence towards animals."

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Associate Agriculture Minister for animal welfare Andrew Hoggard opened the event, and said it was important to be involved with the industry to better understand the measures to protect animal welfare on the ground.

"I thought it was a really good day and a good opportunity for rural areas to come together," he said.

"I was really impressed with the actions around animal welfare."

Hoggard said there was only a scratch to a horse at the final event.

But he said two confirmed deaths had occurred at rodeo this season and possibly one more following an earlier rodeo event with "no obvious injury" found.

When asked if he was satisfied with measures being carried out under the codes system, he confirmed he was.

"Coming from a farming background, we understand accidents and injuries will happen despite best efforts to minimise and reduce the risks," he said.

"It was a useful and insightful event."

But Hall said SAFE believed Hoggard promoting the event was a "misguided action" on his part as the minister responsible for animal welfare.

"We were pretty appalled to discover that Minister Hoggard was there. I mean, he's the minister responsible for animal welfare, so it's mind blowing that he was at the event, openly supporting this event," Hall said.

"The minister's responsibilities include promoting the humane treatment of animals and the rodeo industry is absolutely rife with animal abuse issues, violence towards animals, so Minister Hoggard being there on the day we believe was appalling."

Hall said nothing about the practice of rodeo satisfied SAFE, and they should be banned all together.

"Just to be really clear, nothing about these events satisfies us at all.

"They're abiding by the current code of welfare, which I want to point out has been under review for two years and we're well overdue for that revised code to be released."

Burrell said the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) was working on the welfare code for rodeo, after releasing an early draft in 2022 which needed further work.

"In regard to the code of welfare, to ensure rodeos continue to adopt the highest standards of husbandry, care, and handling, NAWAC is currently reviewing the Rodeo Code and preparing a draft for public consultation," he said.

"NAWAC members have been attending various rodeos and training events to better understand rodeo practices and the training the animals undergo."

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