NZ Rodeo Welcomes End of Animal Activist Protests – “We Will Not Be Intimidated, We Will Fight Back with the Facts”
New Zealand rodeo enthusiasts will not be intimidated nor silenced by anti-animal activists, says national spokesperson
Michael Laws, after the latest protest at the Waikato rodeo event today.
“ This year, rodeo enthusiasts have decided that we will not stand by and watch our athletes and administrators abused
any more.
“ We will fight back against the uninformed activists with science and the facts.”
Mr Laws said that the announcement today that the Waikato protest would be the last protest this season, “rather
highlights how ineffective that they have been.”
“ We have enjoyed record crowd support at many rodeos this year. I would estimate that around 100,000 people will have
attended a rodeo event by the end of this season. Those numbers dwarf the tiny number of protests and protestors.”
Mr Laws said that an independent 2014 Rodeo Code overseen by the Ministry for Primary Industries and independent vets,
plus the 2016 parliamentary inquiry that rejected activists’ claims “rather put the lie to the claims of protesting
animal activists.”
“Animal welfare is at the heart of our sport. It’s why our sport works so well.”