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Independent commissioners will this week be urged to end the Warkworth Rodeo, held annually on New Year’s Day at Warkworth Showgrounds.
Direct Animal Action representatives, Stephanie Koks and Romina Marinkovich, will make a case against the rodeo today (November 7) during hearings for the draft Rodney Local Parks Management Plan, being held in Orewa.
The commissioners will be asked to recommend to Auckland Council that Warkworth Rodeo, and all rodeo events, no longer take place at the showgrounds.
Marinkovich says she supports much of Council’s draft plan, which will enhance living in Rodney and provide benefits to children, youth, families and individuals in an inclusive way.
“However, what I don’t support is the Rodney Local Board and Council’s parks management renewing the lease for the Warkworth Rodeo Club to hold its annual rodeo event at the showgrounds,” she says.
“The landowner is required to be guided in their decision by the changing needs of the community, whether or not to allow certain activities on their land.”
Warkworth Rodeo secretary Paul Manton says the club won’t be represented at the hearing.
“The parks plan isn’t a suitable document to discuss activities in reserves, whether it is the rodeo or rugby or the pony club,” he says.
“I absolutely respect their [Direct Animal Action] right to have their say – that’s one of the great things about living in a democracy.”
Manton says Warkworth Rodeo has been well-patronised for 62 years.
“Rodeo is not illegal. We adhere to the Animal Welfare Code, as well as having representatives and observers on site from vets, Ministry of Primary Industries, animal welfare officers and club and NZ Rodeo Association officers.”
However, Koks says rodeo is losing its social license.
“Council and the Local Board must ask themselves, representing a progressive community, what will they allow to happen on their land, and what will they continue to celebrate as entertainment?” she says.
“Every year, young calves, bulls and horses are bullied, abused and killed by so-called cowboys, all for the entertainment of a minority. There’s no place for rodeo in modern New Zealand.
“We want to see the rodeo arena dismantled and replaced with a space that would accommodate family friendly activities such as country fairs, farmers markets and zero-waste food festivals.”
In 2020, Direct Animal Action presented a 5000-signature petition to the Local Board during a deputation, calling on it to no longer allow rodeo at the showgrounds or any other council-owned land under their management. The Board did not support the request.
The organisation has staged regular protests outside the showgrounds every New Year’s Day since 2016 (Covid-19 restrictions allowing).
