Proposed rules for dogs
At the end of the month we will ask residents to start giving us feedback on revamped dog management rules for our district.
Like all other councils in New Zealand, we are obliged by the Dog Control Act 1996 to ensure dogs are managed responsibly within our district. The act sets out many of the rules councils must enforce, such as registering and for dogs to be controlled in public. A number of other rules, such as where and when dogs can be exercised, are left to each council to decide in consultation with residents. We must review these rules every 10 years.
Dogs are cherished companions for many Far North residents, and, whether you own a dog or not, they are a part of our lives. Most people will agree that dogs need to be controlled. Our children and our elderly must be protected from attacks, farmers need to protect their stock, and our wildlife must be safeguarded. At the same time, we want dogs to remain a positive part of our community. We want dog owners to enjoy being with their pets outside their own properties, whether it’s on the beach or in the park.
Striking the right balance between the need to protect our people and our environment, and our desire to encourage responsible ownership, is not easy.
The rules we will ask you to comment on were reworked from earlier proposals we sought community feedback on in 2016. We refined those proposals through a series of workshops with community representatives, staff and elected members. The workshops were completed in May, and have resulted in numerous changes to the draft Dog Management Policy and Bylaw.
The proposed rules cover urban and rural environments, areas of great cultural significance, and unique wildlife habitats. They vary depending on whether it’s summer or winter, or whether wildlife is present. Not only dog owners will be affected by the proposed rules; anyone who enjoys our coastline, our reserves and forests, and our urban areas too, is likely to have an opinion on how dogs should be controlled.
To ensure everyone has time to consider these proposals, we are doubling the normal consultation period from four to eight weeks. We will also produce comprehensive, easy-to-understand explanations on how the proposals will impact you. This information will be made widely available.
Our district has changed a lot since we adopted the current rules in 2006, and while we are unlikely to get 100 per cent agreement on all proposals, we aim to achieve rules most people will feel are fair and reasonable. Ultimately, your elected representatives will decide the details of the bylaw. It will reflect as closely as possible a community consensus, while also observing our obligations under the Dog Control Act. I urge you all to work together and help us make this consultation a success.
"Most people will agree that dogs need to be controlled. Our children and our elderly must be protected from attacks, farmers need to protect their stock, and our wildlife must be safeguarded."