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A rodeo in Dunedin will go ahead in April, despite calls from an animal rights group for the event to be cancelled.
Radio New Zealand reported last month two bulls were euthanised at club events near Dunedin over summer after being hurt.
One of the bulls had its back strained while bucking in a competition, and the other's leg was injured in a fence before competing.
Outram rodeo president James Adam confirmed the Mad Bull Rodeo Club Bulls and Barrels Series on April 4 in Dunedin would not be cancelled.
Mad Bull Rodeo president Garry Clark told RNZ the injuries that led to the euthanisings were the only ones sustained among the 80 bulls that took part in the competitions in Otokia, south of Dunedin. One bull died at each of the events on November 30 and December 7.
"It's definitely something we don't want to happen," he said.
"Either of them [the injuries] could have happened in a normal farming day, and it's unfortunate that these things happen unfortunately."
Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor said in a statement last month he was told by the Ministry for Primary Industries there was ‘‘nothing to suggest there was a breach of rodeo minimum standards in either incident’’.
Safe group spokesman Will Appelbe said the rodeo club had had a ‘‘troubling’’ first season.
‘‘This club has killed a bull at each of its first two events.
‘‘This is a pattern we can't ignore.’’
‘‘MPI should not allow this club to run another event until it has been fully audited and the ministry has checked all of the club’s processes.’’
- additional reporting RNZ
