Wanaka Rodeo Club

Not as flashy as rodeo day… but just as important.

🤠 Wanaka Rodeo Club AGM
🤠 Wednesday 1 July | 7PM
🤠 Luggate Fire Station

We’re talking club business, upcoming plans, and giving members the chance to get involved where it counts.

Come along, stay in the loop, and help shape what’s next.

The future of the club doesn’t just happen, it’s built in rooms like this.

🇨🇦 CLUB MEMBER SPOTLIGHT 🇨🇦
Recently, Amelia Knowles travelled to Canada to compete and experience rodeo on the other side of the world.

From the excitement of competing in a new country to the lifelong friendships made along the way, her journey is a great reminder of the opportunities that can come from getting involved and giving things a go.

We asked Amelia a few questions about her experience, highlights from the trip, and what she learned along the way.

Read her story below 👇

Tell us about your trip? Where are you based, how long are you away for, what are you upto?

I am living in Alberta, Canada. I arrived here in early April and then flew down to Stephenville, Texas for a couple of weeks before we drove back up to Alberta. While I’m here I get to run horses and train under my coach, Melissa Duff, drive back to the states for the NHSFR, and help out with everyone here before I return back to New Zealand in September.

What has been the highlight of your trip so far?

It’s hard to pinpoint one highlight, I’ve been very lucky to ride some amazingly calibrated horses, meet great people, and learn things that I can use for the rest of my life. If I had to pick some of the best parts, it would be the drive from Texas up to Alberta, and the clinic Melissa ran in Dawson Creek, BC. Both of these trips involved a lot of miles, but I got to see some amazing country, experience -15 degrees to find out I’m more of a tropical girl, return to rock springs for a night and catch up with our good friend Jace, and meet more people with different stories who all have a similar passion as I do.

What do you miss most about New Zealand?

I do miss my family, my dogs, and my horses, specifically my little mare Lacey. We have lots of goals for the new season and she deserves time off after our recent season, but I’m definitely getting excited to return home and get back to working with her.


What is something you have experienced overseas that you would love to implement in New Zealand?

The standard of the competitors to continue a professional etiquette both in and out of the arena. There are a lot more competitors here, and I have been lucky enough to see more good than bad, but the way everyone conducts themselves is extremely admirable.

Do you have any advice for people wanting to do a similar trip to you?

Go on the trip. Take that opportunity to see the industry in different forms and soak it all in. You can always go home to New Zealand, but you don’t always get the chance to learn, experience, and travel. This is my second time coming overseas during the off season, and it’s done nothing but help me as a competitor, mature me, and give me tools to use anywhere between now and far into my future. It’s given me an opportunity to create lifelong contacts, open more doors for future plans, and prepared me for a lot of different scenarios. This opportunity, or similar, is one nobody should take for granted, and should absolutely indulge themselves in to make the most of it.

We're so proud to see our members taking opportunities to compete, learn and represent our club around the world. Thanks to Amelia for sharing her experience with us!

This is your behind-the-scenes pass to the rodeo.

AGM = Wednesday 1 July
7PM at Luggate Fire Station

What’s on the table:

✅ Club updates
✅ Future plans
✅ Opportunities to step into roles
✅ The stuff that keeps the rodeo running

If you’ve ever said “someone should…” this is your chance to be that someone.

All members welcome.

Less arena, more agenda… but just as important.

🤠 Wanaka Rodeo Club AGM
🤠 Wednesday 1 July | 7PM
🤠 Luggate Fire Station

We’ll run through club business, chat about what’s coming up, and open the floor for those keen to get more involved (yes, that means committee roles too).

Short, sharp, and worth being there for.

Lock it in.

Wanaka Rodeo Club members really brought the heat at the 2026 NFR taking home both all around Cowboy and Cowgirl titles as well as:

🥇Rope + Tie
🥇Breakaway
🥇Team Roping Header
🥇Team Roping Heeler
🥇Rope + Tie horse of the year
🥇Bareback Horse of the year

We're so unbelievably proud of you all and your achievements.

Let's do it all again this season

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZWjoOBTb6h/?igsh=MW5lZmNqcW9vNDE4eA==

Wanaka Rodeo Club members really brought the heat at the 2026 @newzealandrodeocowboys NFR taking home both all around Cowboy and Cowgirl titles as well as: 🥇Rope + Tie 🥇Breakaway 🥇Team Roping Header 🥇Team Roping Heeler 🥇Rope + Tie horse of the year 🥇Bareback Horse of the year We’re so unbelievably proud of you all and your achievements. Let’s do it all again this season 🤠 #nzrodeo #wanakarodeoclub #titlewinners

Dust off your boots, Wanaka Rodeo crew… it’s AGM time.

🤠 Wednesday 1 July
🤠 7PM
🤠 Luggate Fire Station

We’ll be covering the important stuff (yip, the official bits), plus making plans for the season ahead. Committee roles, club updates, and where we’re headed next, it all happens here.

If you care about the club, this is your moment to show up and have your say.

See you there.

We are so lucky to have Murray part of Wanaka Rodeo Club!

At 82 years of age, this year’s Wanaka Physiotherapy Spirit of Central Otago Award winner, Murray MacMillan, is still actively competing in rodeo.

He has been part of the Wānaka Rodeo Club since it was formed in 1968 and is both a life member and past president.

Congratulations Murray! 🏆

Forsyth Barr Central Otago Sports Awards 2026 |