KDC Dogs Policy

The revised Policy on Dogs and Dog Management Bylaw was adopted at the Council meeting on 27 June 2019.  It will become operative when a public notice is published in the Kaipara Lifestyler on Tuesday 9 July 2019.

You can view the final document on Council’s website: https://www.kaipara.govt.nz/uploads/dogs/Policy%20on%20Dogs%20&%20Dog%20Bylaw%202019-Adopted.pdf.

Please note this is the final document and the opportunity to make changes has now passed.

Council would like to thank all those who submitted or provided input into this process.  241 submissions were received however several had multiple signatories meaning the number of submitters was much higher than the number of submissions.  A number of changes have been made to the Draft Policy and Bylaw as a result of submissions.  

Key changes include (but are not limited to):

  • Dogs are not permitted on the Mangawhai Cliff Top Walk.
  • Dogs are allowed off leash at the following beaches around the Mangawhai Harbour before 10am and after 5pm:
  • Picnic Bay;
  • The Estuary Beach from the Alamar Crescent boat ramp to the rocks at Bullet Point;
  • 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; and
  • dogs must be on a leash at all times around the rest of the Mangawhai Harbour (except the sand spit where they are prohibited) – this is to protect the New Zealand fairy tern/tara iti (New Zealand’s rarest bird).  
  • Dogs are permitted at the shops on Wood Street, Mangawhai Heads provided they are on a leash.
  • The submissions revealed there is a clear consensus that the rules for Pahi remain largely unchanged.  Therefore, the new rules for Pahi are similar to the 2009 rules. 
  • Dogs are prohibited from Pou Tu Te Rangi Pa and required to be on a leash in the remainder of Harding Park, Dargaville.
  • Dogs are required to be kept on a leash in all Council controlled cemeteries.
  • People wanting to keep more than two dogs (including puppies) at an urban property must apply for a permit from Council.
  • Dogs are required to be kept on a leash on the roads around the Waipoua and Trounson kauri forests to protect kiwi.

Dog owners are encouraged to review the new rules.