Act leader David Seymour hit out against owners of dogs that attack people. Photo / NZME
Act leader David Seymour hit out against owners of dogs that attack people. Photo / NZME
Act leader David Seymour is warning councils against “knee-jerk” regulations in response to a fatal dog attack in Northland, claiming the dogs are likely owned by “gangs and degenerates”.
It formed part of his speech to the country’s mayors at a local government conference at Parliament, which argued the valueand need for the Regulatory Standards Act that his party led through significant opposition, including from within the coalition Government.
Concern about dog attacks and calls for urgent reform followed the death of Mihiata Te Rore, 62, last week after she was attacked by three dogs while visiting someone she knew at a property on State Highway 12 in Kaihū.
It sparked calls from across the political spectrum, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon raising the prospect of central government intervention if local councils couldn’t manage the issue.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said he believed owners of dogs that commit fatal attacks should be charged with manslaughter, claiming they were “facilitating murder”.
Seymour today spoke to council representatives at the All of Local Government conference about the extent of regulation when he referenced the attack.
“Bluntly, the dogs causing issues are likely owned by gangs and degenerates – people who already ignore the rules,” he said.
“Councils would be wise not to perform any knee-jerk regulating that actually just puts more cost or burden on the good dog owners.”
Act leader David Seymour is encouraging mayors to buy into the Regulatory Standards Act intent. Photo / Mark Mitchell
It was one of several examples Seymour used to illustrate the usefulness of the Regulatory Standards Act, which, among other functions, would require councils to publish “Consistency Accountability Statements” alongside new or changing bylaws.
The statements were intended to outline how new or changed bylaws affected “citizens’ liberties and property rights”, to inform ratepayers of the benefits and costs.
Seymour dismissed any concerns that the statements would be a drag on council resources.
“Councils somehow find time to make declarations about foreign wars and climate change, invest in relationships with sister cities with no benefit to 99.9% of their ratepayers, ban sugary advertising, and find time to reinvent themselves as Tiriti-centric organisations.
“If your council can’t explain why a bylaw is necessary, can’t show it’s proportionate, and can’t justify the costs it imposes, then maybe it should be harder to pass.”
Adam Pearse is the deputy political editor and part of the NZ Herald’s press gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.
