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Dogs banned on two beaches for native bird nesting season

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PUBLISHED: 23 SEPT 2025
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NPDC is temporarily banning dogs from two beaches in the district to give two at-risk bird species a fighting chance during nesting season.

From 30 September, dogs will be banned for 60 days from Waiwhakaiho, east of the river mouth, and Kaihihi Beach, west of the Kaihihi stream, near Ōkato.

The bans will allow our northern New Zealand dotterels/tūturiwhatu and oystercatchers/tōrea pango to nest and raise their chicks.

“Dogs are welcome in our district, but we need to balance that with supporting our native wildlife and a healthy environment. Both these birds are at risk from disturbance and predators, including dogs, and the Department of Conservation classes them as recovering species,” said NPDC Community Health and Animal Services Lead Kimberley Laurence.

“The Wild for Taranaki conservation trust has given us evidence of injured birds from last nesting season, so that we can implement the temporary bans under our Dog Control Bylaw 2022 to safeguard protected wildlife.”

The bans will cover the nesting seasons and maybe rolled over if their chicks need more time to fly.

Check out our dog-walking map for great places to exercise your best friend.

Fast Facts

  • Dogs are banned year-round at all NPDC playgrounds and 13 other places listed on our Walking Your Dog webpage.
  • Dogs are banned for part of the year at five other areas and they must be leashed at 23 other places.
  • Walking your dog in a restricted area could result in a $300 fine.
  • NPDC Animal Control team is tasked with managing about 12,600 dogs and their owners.
  • The team offers dog owners sound advice on how they should be caring for their dog as well as their obligations of being a dog owner.
  • Dogs available for adoption are listed on our Dogs for Adoption page after undergoing behavioural and temperament assessments.
  • The cost of registering a dog varies according to where you live and other factors – the list of fees is here.

Caption: A dotterel chick. 

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Page last updated: 10:09am Tue 23 September 2025

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