From 1 August 2025, dog owners will need to comply with updated dog access rules. Our ‘where you can walk your dog’ webpage and signage will be updated on or from 1 August.

From 1 January 2026, if you walk more than four dogs, you will need to register with the council for approval to walk up to 12 dogs and comply with conditions. The council is in the process of finalising the registration process and conditions. Please visit our dogs webpage from 1 August for updates.

A decision on dog access at Te Ārai Regional Park is scheduled to be made on 28 August 2025.

The Governing Body adopted amendments to the Policy on Dogs and Dog Management Bylaw on 26 June 2025.

The following commencement dates apply:

• 1 August 2025 for the Policy
• 1 January 2026 or a later date by resolution of the relevant council committee, for Clause 9A of the Bylaw about limits on the walking of multiple dogs
• 1 August 2025 for all other amendments to the Bylaw

Note, a decision on dog access rules at Te Ārai Regional Park will be made at Governing Body's August 2025 meeting.

Local boards have also completed deliberations and adopted updated dog access rules at local parks to be effective from 1 August 2025.

You can view the Governing Body and Local decisions below.

Governing body agenda and minutes | 26 June 2025, Item 11.

Deliberations table | Item 11A

Comparison of proposed Policy and Bylaw and panel recommended changes | Item 11B

Recommended amended Policy on Dogs 2025 | Item 11C

Recommended amended Dog Management Bylaw 2019 | Item 11D

Recommended new Policy Control 2025 | Item 11E

Combined list of dog access rule changes

Aotea/Great Barrier Local Board agenda and minutes | 22 April 2025, Item 11.

Franklin Local Board agenda and minutes | 10 June 2025, Item 11.

Hibiscus and Bays Local Board agenda and minutes | 27 May 2025, Item 13.

Howick Local Board agenda and minutes | 15 May 2025, Item 14.

Kaipātiki Local Board agenda and minutes | 21 May 2025, Item 11.

Ōrākei Local Board agenda and minutes | 17 April 2025, Item 11.

Puketāpapa Local Board agenda and minutes | 17 April 2025, Item 12.

Puketāpapa Local Board agenda and minutes | 19 June 2025, (Notice of Motion for Monte Cecilia Park), Item 12.

Rodney Local Board agenda and minutes | 21 May 2025, Item 13.

Upper Harbour Local Board agenda and minutes | 22 May 2025, Item 11.

Waiheke Local Board agenda and minutes | 23 April 2025, Item 17.

Waiheke Local Board agenda and minutes | 25 June 2025, (Notice of Motion for Onetangi Beach) Item 13.

We are proposing to update our Policy on Dogs (including some of the regional and local dog access rules) and the Dog Management Bylaw.

Public feedback has now closed. You can view the timeline for decisions, meeting dates, and feedback on the right side of the page.

The meetings are open to the public to listen however there is no further opportunities for the public to provide feedback.

Details on how to listen to the regional Dog Policy and Bylaw deliberations online (for example walking multiple dogs and dog access rules on regional parks).

For details on how to view the deliberations at a local board business meeting (for example for dog access rules at local parks and beaches), please visit the Auckland Council website for a list of business meeting dates. Please contact the local board democracy advisor for more information on how to listen to a local board business meeting. Contact details for the advisor are on front page of local board agendas.

About our policy and bylaw

Our policy helps us:

• keep dogs a positive part of the life of Aucklanders
• minimises the problems that dogs can cause
• ensures the welfare of dogs.

Our bylaw implements the policy.

What we are proposing

We have reviewed the policy and bylaw, and we want to:

• set a limit on the number of dogs a person can walk at one time in council-controlled public places
• clarify and update dog access rules for 14 regional parks
• clarify and update dog access rules for 64 local parks and beaches
• remove outdated or repeated information
• improve the layout and make the wording clearer.

Information sessions and Have Your Say events

To find out more about our proposals, you can attend:

• in-person and online information sessions
• ‘Have Your Say’ events.

These will take place between 30 January and 20 February 2025.

For a list of session dates and locations, download our Updated Schedule of Events [PDF 212KB].

What we want your feedback on

We want to know what you think of our proposals to:

• limit the number of dogs a person can walk at one time
• change the dog access rules at regional and local parks
• make the policy and bylaw clearer and easier to read.

How you can have your say

To give your feedback, you can:

• fill in the online feedback form
• register to attend a Have Your Say event
• email your completed feedback form to dogsbylawreview@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
• email dogsbylawreview@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz if you want to give your feedback using New Zealand Sign Language.
• call us on 09 301 0101 to make an appointment to give your feedback over the phone
• post your completed feedback form to:

Auckland Council
Dog Policy and Bylaw
Freepost Number 190198
Private Bag 92300
Victoria Street West
Auckland 1142.

When you can have your say

This consultation closed on Sunday 23 February 2025, 11.59pm. Thank you to those who had their say.