Far North campground and tracks closed due to danger from feral dog packs

The campground at Twilight Beach, near Cape Reinga, is usually idyllic but right now it's closed due to packs of roaming dogs. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Four walking tracks and a campsite have been closed in the Far North amid fears that packs of feral dogs could attack visitors.

The tracks, along with Twilight Beach campground, are in Te Paki Recreation Reserve near Cape Reinga.

Up to four packs of feral dogs have been reported between Hukatere, on Ninety Mile Beach, and Te Werahi Beach, immediately west of Cape Reinga.

The Department of Conservation said it believed the dogs posed a risk to walkers, recreational hunters, riders and anyone working in the area, including DoC staff.

The tracks form part of the popular Te Paki Coastal Track and the northernmost section of Te Araroa, the long-distance trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff.

The map shows track closures in Te Paki Recreation Reserve near Cape Reinga. Image / DoC

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Abraham Witana, acting operations manager for DoC's Kaitaia area office, hoped the tracks would reopen within seven days once the situation was under control.

The dogs had been reported by various eyewitnesses and adjoining landowners.

''No one has been attacked, but we are very concerned by the risk this poses to members of the public who use the tracks and micro-campground at Twilight Beach,'' Witana said.

''We are working on a range of options including trapping and culling and will likely use specialist contractors.''

Part of the closed area was home to kiwi, which were particularly vulnerable to dog attack.

DoC was working closely with the district and regional councils, iwi and landowners, and urged people to report feral dogs to their local council.

The closed tracks are Cape Reinga-Te Werahi Beach Track, Te Werahi Beach-Twilight Beach Track, Twilight Beach-Te Paki Stream Track and Twilight-Te Werahi Loop Track.

The track from the Cape Reinga carpark to the lighthouse remains open, along with Te Paki Stream and the tracks east of the Cape towards Spirits Bay.

Facilities at Te Rerenga Wairua/Cape Reinga are also still open for visitors.