The country's top animal welfare organisations have joined forces to call for a ban on rodeos.
The SPCA, SAFE and Farmwatch say the sport is both unethical and inherently cruel.
They claim animals are wrestled, roped and thrown to the ground in aggressive displays that cause painful injuries including fractures and severe stress and fear for the animals.
Two bulls died at rodeos during the 2014/2015 season, the SPCA says.
"Rodeos are inhumane and are not in the best interests of the animals," says SPCA New Zealand chief executive Ric Odom.
"They serve no useful purpose and are purely for human entertainment. If given a choice, animals would prefer not to participate, yet humans force them to do this against their will purely for our entertainment. We are now calling for the government of New Zealand to ban rodeos."
Rodeos are already banned from Auckland Council land, but now campaigners want the rest of the country to follow suit and have launched a petition at change.org.
The call comes as New Zealand Cowboys Association released dates for this year's rodeo events.
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