"Horses and bulls are forced to buck by the use of a flank strap, while young, vulnerable calves are chased, roped around the neck and yanked off their feet at high speed. We strongly urge local residents not to condone this cruelty by attending the rodeo."
In September, Richmond rodeo announced it would no longer be continuing. In the Waikato, Huntly rodeo was forced to close its doors after receiving animal welfare warnings from the Ministry for Primary Industries, and Auckland City Council has stopped rodeo events on its land.
The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) admitted having reservations about the performance of rodeos. It said many companies had withdrawn their sponsorship of rodeo events.
SAFE and the SPCA, New Zealand's leading animal welfare organisations, oppose the use of animals in rodeo on animal welfare grounds: "Rodeo subjects animals to deliberate fear, stress and torment. During rodeo animals are grabbed, ridden, and wrestled aggressively."
Ms Macdonald said as well as the stress inflicted on these animals, injuries are common including torn ligaments, broken bones and severe bruising. She said a bull and a horse died during events in the 2015-16 New Zealand rodeo season, with two bulls killed in the previous season.
"It is time to focus on teaching values of respect and compassion to impressionable children, showing them that tormenting animals is not a part of Kiwi culture," says Ms Macdonald.
"Towns and cities across New Zealand have so much to offer both locals and tourists, providing family fun without causing harm to animals. We encourage residents to embrace alternative forms of entertainment."