Ahipara resident Tyrone Biddle presented a petition to council calling on stronger measures to address roaming and dangerous dogs in the district. Photo / Mike Dinsdale
Ahipara resident Tyrone Biddle presented a petition to council calling on stronger measures to address roaming and dangerous dogs in the district. Photo / Mike Dinsdale
Pressure is mounting on the Far North District Council to get tougher on roaming and dangerous dogs.
After recent dog attacks across Northland, Ahipara residents formally called for the council to strengthen its response to the dog issue, via a petition started by local Tyrone Biddle.
“All six dogs were roaming and concerns about them have previously been raised with authorities.
“I am a dad who doesn’t want to explain to his kids why adults saw danger coming and didn’t act. This petition represents a community saying ‘we care, we’re paying attention, and we want to be part of the solution’.”
Ahipara resident Tyrone Biddle said seeing roaming dogs on Ahipara streets was common and needed to be addressed. Photo / Tyrone Biddle.
He said the petition presented council with an opportunity.
“An opportunity to rebuild confidence, an opportunity to show leadership, and an opportunity to act before tragedy occurs again.”
He said the issue was not about blaming dog owners or being anti-dog, but about the gap between what communities were experiencing and what the system was able to respond to.
“In the Far North, we know reporting doesn’t always translate into action.
“People hesitate to report neighbours out of fear or retaliation. Incidents become normalised. Communities quietly adapt their lives and are just like, ‘oh, this is normal now’.
“So they avoid walking, they avoid the streets, they change their routines, they change their routes. They no longer let their kids just go for a bike ride or go to the shop. That shouldn’t be the cost of where we live.”
Biddle called for clearer tracking of repeat complaints, earlier intervention when patterns emerge and more visible communication, so communities know what action is being taken.
Biddle also suggested a centralised reporting system to make it easier for residents to log concerns, rather than relying on informal channels like social media.
“We want to work with the council. We understand resourcing pressures and legislative constraints.
“But when the system doesn’t respond, the consequences are far worse for families, for owners, and for the council itself.”
At Thursday’s meeting, the council agreed to seek further advice from staff, after councillor Rachel Baucke called for an amendment to Biddle’s motion.
Baucke requested that the chief executive prepare a report outlining options to address roaming and dangerous dogs, including enforcement tools, resources needed and measures to improve community safety.
The amendment was supported by several councillors, with councillor Felicity Foy saying she would not walk without carrying a stick.
She questioned whether current legislation gave councils enough power to act.
Foy also called for clarity from central government on Dog Control Act changes that council has been lobbying for.
“I support the amendment and in terms of personal experience, I wouldn’t do my daily walk without a stick, let alone our tamariki.
“We need a time frame from central government to ensure we have the correct legislative tools so we can do our jobs well.”
Mayor Moko Tepania acknowledged the ongoing work of the council’s animal management team and said the issue was not isolated to Ahipara.
He referenced previous loss of life in the district and recent serious incidents elsewhere in Northland.
Chief executive Guy Holroyd welcomed the discussion and confirmed the council had increased the presence of animal management officers in Ahipara over summer.
