The obligation to register a dog is imposed on owners by the Dog Control Act 1996. The Act requires local territorial authorities to adopt a policy on dogs, which can include setting fees, and to give effect to that policy by making necessary bylaws.
Anyone who does not register their dog as required is committing an offence and if convicted, faces a fine of up to $3000 and risks their dog being seized and impounded.
However, the Act also gives territorial authorities the ability to reduce or refund fees “ in any particular case or class of cases by reason of the financial circumstances of the owner or where it is satisfied that there are special grounds for doing so”.
Mr Akuhata says dog registration fees add to other continually rising costs, like rates, that are an ever-increasing financial burden for older people, who are often on a limited budget.
Most of the older generation have worked all their lives, paid taxes and deserve a break, he says.
“Even if the council just changed the fees to (a token) $1 a year, it would be fairer.”
For many older people, their dogs are their only friends and protectors, Mr Akuhata says.
He's had his dog Butch, a greyhound cross breed nearing 14 years old, since he was a pup and wouldn't be without him.
Butch isn't only a best friend for him. He also helps keeps watch over neighbouring properties, alerting him to anything untoward.
Mr Akuhata is the first to admit he and council dog control staff haven't always seen eye to eye when it comes to Butch. A couple of years ago someone reported him for allegedly not keeping Butch properly fed or fenced — claims Mr Akuhata firmly disputes.
However, he insists his idea for free dog registration for the elderly is an entirely different matter and one that others elsewhere will want to adopt.
Older people are usually responsible dog owners, he says. They don't usually have dogs for hunting or fighting and their dogs tend to be smaller, older and less likely to get up to the kind of mischief that annoys other people, or requires any council attention.
He has been prompted to pursue the idea of free dog registration for elderly owners after receiving a letter from the council last week informing dog owners of their chance to participate in a consultation process which closes on March 2, and to attend the council's hearing on March 29.
Mr Akuhata is hoping to garner additional support for his idea before then, not just at local level but nationally as well.
The council is proposing to replace the 2010 Dog Control policy with the Tairāwhiti Dog Control Policy 2023 and Tairāwhiti Dog Control Bylaw 2023.
According to the council's website, the proposed changes will ensure the council is “maintaining a balance between the needs of dog owners and the public by taking all practical steps to improve public safety and reduce nuisance caused by dogs”.
“The proposed changes allow council to have more precise and clear regulations around dog access areas which, in the past, have been observed to be confusing in certain areas of Tairāwhiti,” the website states.
Dogs to be on a leash in public places.
Dogs prohibited from Kaiti Beach.
Dogs on-leash allowed in some neighbourhood parks.
Dogs allowed off-leash in part of Waiteata Park.
Dogs prohibited from sports fields at Waikirikiri Reserve and Nelson Park.
Removal of time-of-day, public and school holiday conditions on all beaches.
Increase the number of dogs that can be kept without a permit.
Neutering of dogs found not under control two or more times in a 12-month period.
Dog owners are also subject to rules under the Dog Control Act 1996 and Dog Control Amendment Act 2003, including the requirement to register dogs annually.
