Rerewhakaaitu Rodeo : the early years

When Rodeo was...
The Rerewhakaaitu Rodeo Association was formed in 1964 and the inaugural rodeo was held in April 1964. 

The First ever Rodeo at Rerewhakaaitu 

This was fitted in at the end of the regular circuit and attracted many top-riders who were anxious to pile on some points for the National Championship. Rotorua Photo News, 9 May 1964, page 53.

Photograph #1 Over 2,000 people attended which is pretty good for a country show" Rotorua Photo News, 9 May 1964, page 53.

Photograph #2 It looks like all the cowboys were in the ring together, including the one riding!  Just a little risk to life and limb!

Photograph #3 Susan O’Neill.  Caption says, 'her father, is the president of the Rerewhakaaitu Rodeo Assn.'

Three years on and the sport was becoming more and more popular...

"Rerewhakaaitu is just another stop on the rodeo trail that over summer sees maybe 300 riders, both men and women, compete in 35 rodeos, scattered all over the country" from "Dances with horses" by Mark Scott in NZ Geographic, Issue 21, Jan-Mar 1994.  Read the full story here

In 2002, Life Membership was awarded to Sue & Merv Church, Pat Dale and Alby Schuster.  Mr Mervyn T. Church was award an O.N.Z.M for services to the sport of Rodeo in the 2003 New Year Honours List" from 'Pupils, pastures & pine trees' by Rerewhakaaitu District Reunion Committee, c2003.

The Rerewhakaaitu Rodeo has been held every year since this first one and despite country wide disapproval of rodeos in general, the Rodeo will be held again on 26 December 2018 at the Lake Rerewhakaaitu Domain.

Post written by Alison. 2018, Dec. 28

References

Rotorua Photo News. (1964, May 9.) At the rodeo. Rotorua Photo News.

Rotorua Photo News. (1964, May 9.) [untitled]. Rotorua Photo News.

Rotorua Photo News. (1967, February 10.) The Wild one. Rotorua Photo News.

Daily Post. (1967, January 6.) [untitled]. Daily Post.

Daily Post. (1967, January 7.) Australian riders beaten in rodeo. Daily Post.