Person dies after dog attack at home in Kaihu, Northland

The attack was at a Kaihu home on State Highway 12. Photo / Google Maps

A person has died after being mauled by dogs at a home in Northland.

Police said the attack, at a Kaihu home on State Highway 12, was reported to police at 11.25am.

Whangārei-Kaipara area commander Maria Nordstrom said there was no risk to the public and the dogs had been restrained.

Police are now examining the scene in Kaihu, which is about 32km from Dargaville.

A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said they were notified of an incident in Kaihu at 11.22am. One ambulance and one helicopter attended.

An Ahipara resident had earlier told RNZ locals have been arming themselves with sticks to protect against roaming dogs.

Mayor speaks on ‘tragic’ incident

Kaipara District mayor Jonathan Larsen said the situation was “tragic”.

“My thoughts go out to the people that are involved,” Larsen said.

“It’s an awful, awful situation to deal with.”

He said the Kaipara District Council animal management team responded to the incident, and were working alongside police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, and Hato Hone St John.

“I can confirm that the dogs have been secured, but obviously, there’s going to be an investigation underway,” he said.

Larsen said he was yet to know the full circumstances surrounding the incident and did not know how many dogs were involved at this stage.

A Kaipara District Council spokesperson said they were unable to provide further details while a response and investigation were underway.

Larsen confirmed police were acting as the lead agency on the incident.

History of Northland attacks

This death is the third fatal dog attack in Northland in the past five years.

In August 2022, Neville Thomson died at his house in the Far North town of Panguru. The man who owned the dogs, Abel Wira, was later jailed for three and a half years in New Zealand’s first dog-attack manslaughter conviction.

The pack of dogs that killed Thomson reportedly had a reputation for lunging at visitors, attacking livestock and even allegedly turning on their owner.

This death is the third fatal dog attack in Northland in the last five years. Photo / 123RF

In October 2023, Elizabeth “Effie” Whittaker died after a dog attack in the backyard of her Moerewa home.

The family of the woman, who was in her 70s, spoke of their devastation at the loss of a “dearly loved” mother, nanny, and aunt.

“No one would have expected such a tragedy in our community,” her family said in a statement.

No one has been brought to justice for the death.

More to come

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