SAFE was kept busy last week fielding responses from the public and media to a story published in the New Zealand Herald regarding Auckland City Council's new rodeo ban. SAFE's campaign director Hans Kriek gave a convincing 30-minute interview on Newstalk ZB outlining what is wrong with rodeos. The story also featured in The Press, Scoop, TV3 and TV One with Maori TV and Alt TV interviewing campaign officer Eliot Pryor about the issue."Maori TV has a programme devoted to rodeos so it was a chance for SAFE to present our perspective," says Eliot. Members and volunteers got involved by writing letters and taking part in an online poll. Eliot says it's great that the issue is being debated. The Minister of Sport Clayton Crosgrove took it upon himself to publicly defend rodeos. "The Minister may say it's ‘just a bit of fun' but when looking at it from an animal welfare aspect, it's no fun for the animals." In a recent article in the New Zealand Herald, the New Zealand Rodeo Association said the decision to ban rodeos in Auckland was unfair and undemocratic. The ban was decided upon after a submission was presented to the council by SAFE. Gary Jackson, former president of the Rodeo Association, said that he did not want to see other councils following suit and was concerned that the democratic process had not been followed. Cathy Casey, one of the three councillors who heard the submission, said the bylaw and motion were unanimously passed because of animal welfare concerns. She said SAFE presented a strong case and the ban showed the council was against rodeos. "It's a different philosophy," she said. "I disagree we should use animals as some means of entertainment." Hans Kriek, SAFE's campaign director, welcomed the ban, saying the organisation had been trying to stop rodeos in New Zealand for the past 20 years. He hoped other councils would follow Auckland City Council's example. "Rodeos send really bad messages to families and children about how we should treat animals," Mr Kriek said. Check out SAFE's campaign against rodeo abuse. 21 July 2008
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