New Zealand town cancels rabbit-throwing contest

A rural town in New Zealand has been forced to cancel its annual rabbit-throwing competition after complaints from animal rights groups.

In the contest, which is held each year to coincide with the start of the pig hunt, children see how far they can throw a dead rabbit.

But the RSPCA said the rabbit-throw sent a message to children that dead animals were fun and could legitimately be used as a form of entertainment.



Charles Cadwallader, animal cruelty inspector, said the rabbit-throw was also cruel. "Do you throw your dead grandmother around for a joke at her funeral?" he said.

However, not everyone in the town agrees with the ban. The organiser of the pig hunt, Jo Moriarty, said the decision to can the event was political correctness gone mad.

"You know, the children of the community here are fantastic, they love their animals," she said. Ms Moriarty said children communities like Waiau had a better respect for animals because they are brought up with them.