New dog control rules for Kaipara District

 

Kaipara District Council has adopted new dog control rules for the District. 
This follows a review of the Policy on Dogs (The Policy) and Dog Management Bylaw (The Bylaw). 

These are made under sections 10 and 20 of the Dog Control Act 1996 and are required to be reviewed every 10 years. 

The review has resulted in the rules for dogs in the Kaipara District being amended with the new rules coming into effect from Tuesday 9 July 2019. 

The new rules are considerably different from the previous rules (adopted in 2009) and to the draft rules recently consulted on. 

Council would like to thank all those who submitted on the draft rules. 

Council staff were impressed with the quality of many of the submissions and the clear consensus regarding some issues. 
Consequently, a number of amendments have been made to the rules which were consulted on. 

Key changes include (but are not limited to):
 Dogs will continue to have off-leash access to the Estuary Beach from the Alamar Crescent boat ramp to the rocks at Bullet Point. In addition, the times when dogs may have off-leash access will be extended to before 10am and after 5pm. 
 These rules, off leash access before 10am and after 5pm, will also apply to the following areas of the harbour: Picnic Bay; Lincoln Street reserve and adjoining beach; The beach from the end of Pearson Street to the point at the north of the Kainui Street Reserve.
All other beaches around the Mangawhai Harbour shall be on leash areas (except the sand spit where dogs are prohibited). This is intended to protect Mangawhai’s fairy terns/tara iti (New Zealand’s rarest bird) and to recognise that many people in the community like to enjoy the harbour without disturbance from dogs. 
 Dogs shall be permitted at the shops on Wood Street, Mangawhai Heads provided they are on a leash.
 Dogs are not permitted on the Mangawhai Cliff Top Walk.
 People wanting to keep more than two dogs (including puppies) at an urban property must apply for a permit from Council. 

Dog owners are encouraged to review the new rules on Council’s website kaipara.govt.nz/services/animal-education-control/dogs. Contact council if you have any questions about the new rules.