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Dogs and animals
Te hīkoi kurī

Walking your dog

We welcome dogs in our district. There are some places where dogs are banned or where they must be on a leash. This is to maintain health and safety for our community and wildlife.

Temporary dog bans during bird nesting season

We’re temporarily banning dogs from two beaches in the district to help protect two at-risk bird species during nesting season.​

From 30 September 2025, dogs will be prohibited for 60 days from Waiwhakaiho, east of the river mouth, and part of 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.​

Both these birds are at risk from disturbance and predators and the Department of Conservation classes them as recovering species.​

We’re establishing these temporary bans under Policy 12 of our Dog Control Bylaw 2022.​

The temporary restrictions might be renewed beyond 29 November if necessary.

Check out the information and map below to find out where you cannot take your dog or where it will need to be leashed. If the place you are looking for is not listed that means you are free to walk your dog there any time. 

Happy dog walking!

Two women walking a dog

Dog walking map

This map will help you find out where you can take your dog and what sort of control it needs to be under so you can make the most of your walks! If no restrictions are stated then your dog may be walked off leash at any time.

Map key:

Red map icon. Prohibited  Yellow map icon. Leashed Control  Green map icon. Off leash and under control

Please click/tap on the icons on the map for more information.

Keep it clean!

Wherever you go, make sure to bring your pooper scooper and some bags. If you need help finding a bin to put your used bags in, just refer to our map above.


Dog control bylaw 

Page last updated: 04:47pm Thu 25 September 2025

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06 759 6060 enquiries@npdc.govt.nz
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