Animal advocacy group SAFE has renewed calls for Christchurch to ban the International Rodeo.

The rodeo, which is New Zealand's biggest, is held as the finale to Canterbury?s Cup & Show Week and will take place tomorrow night at Westpac Arena.

SAFE Campaign director Hans Kriek says the event is cruel.

"The animals are not willing participants. They are forced to participate, unlike the people who are silly enough to sit on them. This rodeo especially features a very strong emphasis on the bucking of the animals. Bucking only takes place if animals are tormented into bucking."

Mr Kriek says the rodeo flies in the face of Christchurch City Council's desire to become a 'peace city.' He is calling on mayor Bob Parker to withdraw the council's support of rodeo events and to uphold the city's zero tolerance of violence and abuse.