Northern Advocate
  • Northern Advocate home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Property
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings

Locations

  • Far North
  • Kaitaia
  • Kaikohe
  • Bay of Islands
  • Whangārei
  • Kaipara
  • Mangawhai
  • Dargaville

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whangārei
  • Dargaville

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Northern Advocate

Whangārei District Council calls for submissions on dog rules

By Simone Ackermann
Northern Advocate·
9 Jun, 2023 05:00 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
WDC is asking the public for feedback on its current dog policy and bylaw. Photo / NZME

WDC is asking the public for feedback on its current dog policy and bylaw. Photo / NZME

The Whāngarei District Council (WDC) is seeking public feedback on dog rules as part of its review of the Dog Management Policy and Bylaw, which is required every 10 years.

A variety of issues are covered by the Dog Management Policy and Bylaw including where you can and cannot take your dog, beach access rules during summer, nuisance and dangerous dogs, and dog welfare.

A Raumanga-Otaika resident said the review was long overdue and she is “really rapt to hear something is finally being done”.

After moving to Whāngarei three years ago, she describes how out-of-control dogs have severely impacted her family’s lives. When they first moved, she and her grandson would walk to and from school every day.

“It was only really a matter of months before the situation with rushing dogs, roaming dogs and a very, very close attack on us both resulted in us having to get taxis to and from school for many months before other alternative transportation was arranged.”

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

She believes there is “something seriously wrong” when you are not able to go for a walk in your local area.

“I have had my right as a resident living in a city taken away from me.”

In her view, Facebook also tells a story of the out-of-control dog situation and irresponsible dog ownership within Whāngarei on a regular basis.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

She has already made her submission as part of the WDC review, asking for “a real tighten up of the current laws”.

Some changes she would like to see are fence height restrictions, greater fines and penalties for those who choose to be irresponsible with their dogs and for Kāinga Ora to change their policy back to prohibit dogs on their properties.

She says Animal Management has been “absolutely outstanding” though.

The WDC Annual Report on Dog Control Policy and Practices 2021-2022 showed their proactive patrols in identified risk areas had increased to 384, compared to 269 in 2020-2021.

The review is an opportunity for the public to have their say on dog beach access rules during summer. Photo / Tania Whyte
The review is an opportunity for the public to have their say on dog beach access rules during summer. Photo / Tania Whyte

Public submissions on Whāngarei dog rules are open until 5pm, July 31.

There are a number of ways to place feedback, either in an online survey form or by dropping a pin on an interactive map, which can be accessed here.

Alternatively, there will be drop-in sessions held at the Whāngarei Central Library on June 20, June 28 and July 6.

As a reminder, dog registrations expire June 30 each year. Dog owners must renew their registrations by August 1 to get a discounted rate and avoid a penalty fee.

Save
    Share this article

Latest from Northern Advocate

Northern Advocate

Police catch teen biker after 'catch me if ya can' taunt

Northern Advocate

New facility aims to transform lives of vulnerable children in Northland

Northern Advocate

'End of the reign': Decades-long Pākiri sand mining battle ends as company eyes up new location


Sponsored

NZ’s convenience icon turns 35

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Northern Advocate

Police catch teen biker after 'catch me if ya can' taunt
Northern Advocate

Police catch teen biker after 'catch me if ya can' taunt

A 14-year-old challenged police online, leading to his capture in Whangārei.

04 Sep 05:16 AM
New facility aims to transform lives of vulnerable children in Northland
Northern Advocate

New facility aims to transform lives of vulnerable children in Northland

04 Sep 03:00 AM
'End of the reign': Decades-long Pākiri sand mining battle ends as company eyes up new location
Northern Advocate

'End of the reign': Decades-long Pākiri sand mining battle ends as company eyes up new location

04 Sep 01:28 AM


NZ’s convenience icon turns 35
Sponsored

NZ’s convenience icon turns 35

02 Sep 09:23 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • The Northern Advocate e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Northern Advocate
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The Northern Advocate
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP