Tighten the leash

Pooches may roam 24/7 on Muriwai Beach but that might change once an Auckland-wide dog policy is put in place, writes Hayley Hannan.
A slight breeze stirs the air at Muriwai Beach while Dan Abdelnoor plays with his son, Stan. It's picture-perfect. Stan gurgles happily, smearing black sand on his face and legs. Nearby, the family dogs, Peanut and Tinka, sit keeping watch.
Muriwai Beach is one of the few Auckland beaches where dogs may roam free - north of the surf club, that is - at any time, on any day of the year (see panel). It's the reason Mr Abdelnoor moved to Muriwai six years ago.
"See, that's how it is out here,'' he says, gesturing at a couple walking with their dog. "So many people appreciate the fact that you can run your dogs free. In the weekends, I've seen over a hundred dogs here.''
For Gillean Wayne, walking her dogs takes a lot of planning and checking. Ms Wayne lives in Green Bay and normally heads to Kakamatua, near Cornwallis, or over to the North Shore to walk her dogs, as the beaches allow more dog access.
"I check the tide charts before I go. If it's high tide, you can only do short walks. And I always check the bylaws before I go so that I haven't got confused with anyone else's bylaws.''
Ms Wayne hopes for more understanding rules for dog owners from an upcoming review of dog control bylaws.
Over the next year, Auckland Council will work out a region-wide dog policy, collating all the previous council bylaws on dog control.
A unified dog policy is expected to be in place by April 2012. A draft copy is expected in October this year, which will go out for public scrutiny and submissions next February. The dog control review is just one of many planned. Auckland Council has inherited 158 bylaws on 32 broad topics, from the seven previous councils.
The regulatory and bylaws committee has decided to start with five "contentious''
topics: dog control, commercial sex premises, infrastructure services, liquor control plus public safety and transport.
Chair Des Morrison expands: "We described them as the low-hanging fruit, the areas where we have most of the problems. The dog bylaws are really up there when we talk about problems.''
The review will set out a consistent regional framework for each bylaw topic. "We're working to create a consistent approach across the region. But that doesn't mean we are going to pick the best bylaw and put that in. We're looking at the particular approaches each area needs.''
Each topic and the corresponding bylaws will be developed in seven stages by a working party. Each working party will have 10 to 12 councillors and representatives from local boards and interested parties. The first five working parties are being convened now.
The committee is also looking into increasing the punitive powers of bylaws. One option is to introduce infringements or instant fines, says Mr Morrison. At the moment, the council can issue only abatement notices requiring a person to stop offending*.
Most of the current bylaws must be reviewed by October 31, 2015, but Mr Morrison hopes to complete all 32 topic reviews by November 2013, the end of the council's term
in office.
Beach laws
Most councils have special requirements for dogs on beaches during the peak summer season, as defined by daylight saving hours.
On most former Auckland City Council beaches, dogs are allowed between 7pm and 9am during daylight saving, and must be on a leash. Outside of this, dogs are allowed on
beaches between 4pm and 10am.
On the western, former Waitakere City Council beaches, dogs are prohibited between 9am and 7pm. There are special rules for Bethells, Piha and Cornwallis beaches.
Former Rodney District Council beaches have a number of dog-friendly zones, such as Muriwai Beach (past the surf club).
On prohibited beaches, dogs are not allowed between 9am and 7pm from the first Sunday in October to the third Sunday in March. Dogs are allowed off-leash, but under control, on specified beaches outside of these hours. 
On former North Shore City Council beaches, dogs are banned between 10am and 6.30pm, during daylight saving hours.
Former Rodney District Council beaches have a number of dog-friendly zones, such as Muriwai Beach. On prohibited beaches, dogs are not allowed between 9am and 7pm, from the first Sunday in October to the third Sunday in March.
Former Manukau City Council beaches allow dogs (off-leash) on specified beaches between 7pm and 9am during daylight saving. Former Papakura District Council beaches have a mixture of prohibited, leashed and off-leashed areas, while, on past Franklin District Council beaches, dogs aren't allowed on the popular beaches from 10am to 6pm during daylight saving.
* Footnote: Auckland Council has asked to The Aucklander clarify a point in the article sourced from bylaws committee chair Des Morrison that errant dog owners can only be issued with abatement notices.
"While it is correct that the council can issue abatement notices, council can already issue infringement notices under legislation, such as the Dog Control Act," a spokesperson says.