Tourist no bunny as a thrower

AMANDA ROOBOTTOM

FLYING HIGH: Event organiser Barry Woods flings a rabbit during the world rabbit throwing championship at Waitomo.

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New Zealand's champion rabbit thrower is a 19-year-old female German tourist.

Lisa Lutz could not believe her luck when she out-threw a Waitomo local by the name of "Butch" at the world rabbit throwing championship in Waitomo yesterday.

More than 70 people took part in the event, according to organiser Barry Woods, who said it was great to see people of all ages rolling up their sleeves and taking part.

"Basically this was a stand against the PC brigade who think there is something wrong with what goes on in the real world," Mr Woods said.

Competitors selected a dead rabbit from a pile and threw it into a trailer attached to a motorbike which, Mr Woods said, was exactly how it's done on the farm.

"Why shouldn't kids be able to see how it's done, handle a dead animal and learn about pests which destroy the environment?" he said.

Miss Lutz won a trip for two on the Waitomo Riverjet and a $100 meal voucher for her throwing ability but admits to being embarrassed about the win. "I couldn't believe it, I just laughed. It was very funny."

Miss Lutz is in New Zealand on a 12-month working holiday.