JETSTAR INTERNATIONAL RODEO
Animal abuse disguised as entertainment
Christchurch’s Westpac Centre will this Saturday be the focus of anti-rodeo campaigners protesting against an indoor
rodeo which will be held at the Centre on Saturday night. National animal advocacy organisation SAFE, which is
organising the protest action, will also seek assurances from sponsors of the event, including international airline
operator Jetstar, that they will discontinue their support of such animal abuse.
“Rodeos are a brutal display of man’s dominance and abuse of animals. These animals are forced to endure needless
suffering and gross mistreatment, all for the sake of so-called entertainment,” says SAFE campaign director Hans Kriek.
“Rodeo animals are not wild animals, they would not normally buck but are tormented into doing so through the use of
flankstraps, electric prods and spurs. The animals are at risk of broken bones, ruptured ligaments, extensive bruising
and even death.”
The Jetstar International Rodeo is New Zealand’s first indoor rodeo and is being marketed as entertainment for inner
city families, a tactic deplored by SAFE.
“Rodeos blatantly disregard our moral obligation towards other living creatures and have a negative impact on our
society, particularly on impressionable children. Over 1500 children will be attending Saturday’s rodeo and they will
witness animals being terrorised and ill-treated, seemingly with adult approval. Conditioning children into accepting
such violence will have dire consequences for our society in the future given the strong links between animal and human
abuse.”
SAFE believes that Jetstar, a principal sponsor of the rodeo, must take responsibility for the role it plays in the
perpetuation of this type of aggressive attitude towards animals. Jetstar must act immediately by withdrawing their
involvement from any future rodeos and adopting a policy of not sponsoring events which cause animals to suffer
needlessly.
SAFE’s protest will begin at 5pm on Saturday, 17 November on Twigger Road near the Westpac Centre.
ENDS