Time to have a say on dog rule changes

Auckland Council is seeking feedback on proposed changes to Auckland’s dog rules. 

The five-week consultation started on January 20 and closes on Sunday February 23.

The changes cover dog access rules – where dogs can go off a leash, on a leash, or are not allowed – at 14 regional parks and 64 places in local parks and beaches across the region. This includes Long Bay, Mahurangi and Shakespear Regional Parks, as well as Big Manly Beach and Tindalls Beach. At Shakespear, the proposal is to remove all off leash areas in both Army and Okoromai Bays.

New off-leash areas are recommended in some areas, as well as changes to keep dogs out of places with vulnerable wildlife, and to provide some places for the public to visit that are completely dog-free.

Council’s Regulatory and Safety Committee chair Councillor Josephine Bartley says the proposals aim to strike a fair balance for everyone who uses Auckland’s public places.

“The changes being put forward aim to keep a good mix of dog-friendly and dog-free spaces so there are places for dogs, and anyone who is not a dog person, to enjoy,” Bartley says. 

“This will also help to protect vulnerable wildlife such as endangered shorebirds nesting on beaches, and kauri in specific places.”

Council data shows that multiple dogs being walked together is an emerging issue for Aucklanders, so a limit on the number of dogs that can be walked at the same time is also being proposed. People will be permitted to walk a maximum of six dogs at once and only three of those dogs can be off a leash.

Finally, some existing rules in the policy and bylaw will be made clearer. This includes the need for any dogs classified as menacing and dangerous to be neutered if they move into the Auckland region, rules and exemptions for working dogs and dogs in vehicles, plus dog access rules for places such as council car parks and camping grounds.

In a preliminary survey in March last year, Aucklanders told council that owners not picking-up after their dog, dogs wandering off-leash in on-leash areas and packs of dogs taking up pathways were of concern to them.

Final decisions on the policy and bylaw changes are expected to be made around the middle of this year.

A full list of changes being put forward in the statement of proposal documents for the review of the policy and bylaw (including regional parks) and local dog access rules are available at https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/dog-policy-bylaw-and-access-rules

Information sharing – An engagement session specifically on the Hibiscus & Bays local dog access rules will be held at the Auckland Council Albany Hub (Hawiti) 6/8 Munroe Lane, Albany, on February 11, from 2pm to 3pm. Registrations essential. A drop-in information session will also be held at the Whangaparāoa Library on February 12, from 10.30am to midday, and there will be a number of online sessions. More info at: https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/dog-policy-bylaw-and-access-rules