Dog Control Policy and Bylaw Review 2027 - Early engagement

All submissions are reviewed and considered before a final decision is made. Should submissions be received in opposition a hearing will be held. 

Early engagement plays an important role at this early stage. Engaging with the community at the outset enables Council to build awareness, gauge levels of interest, begin generating momentum and awareness ahead of any further public consultation, and most importantly, ensures decisions are informed by community knowledge.

Through early engagement, Council can develop a clearer understanding of the community’s current needs, priorities and perspectives relating to the topic, while also providing an opportunity to build on staff knowledge and Council data with the lived experience and local insight of the community. This helps to test assumptions about the nature and severity of issues, validate anecdotal information and progressively refine the scope of matters requiring further investigation.

15 October – 16 November 2026

Feedback can be provided both online or through completing the paper form available in libraries or in Council offices across the district. 

The Dog Control Policy and Dog Control Bylaw work together to help manage dogs within the Waikato district. In simple terms, the Policy explains what Council wants to achieve, and the Bylaw explains how those outcomes are delivered in practice.

The Dog Control Policy sets out Council's goals and approach to dog management. It explains what Council is trying to achieve, such as promoting responsible dog ownership, protecting public safety, reducing nuisance, and providing appropriate areas for dogs to be exercised.

The Dog Control Bylaw contains the rules used to give effect to the Policy. It includes matters such as where dogs must be on a leash, where dogs are prohibited, dog exercise areas, and requirements relating to the keeping and control of dogs.

Council is required under the Dog Control Act 1996 to adopt a Dog Control Policy and make the necessary bylaws to implement that policy. The two documents therefore work together, with the Policy setting the direction and the Bylaw providing the rules needed to achieve it.

Waikato District Council is reviewing its Dog Control Policy and Dog Control Bylaw to ensure they remain fit for purpose and continue to meet the needs of our growing and changing communities.

As part of this review, we want to hear from the community about their experiences with dogs across the district and understand which issues are most important to them. This includes topics such as dog ownership, dog numbers on different types of properties, dog exercise areas, dog walking, and the management of dogs in public places.

This is an early engagement survey. We are not consulting on proposed changes at this stage. Instead, we are seeking feedback to help us understand community experiences, identify emerging issues, and determine whether any changes to the Dog Control Policy or Bylaw should be considered.

Your feedback will help shape the next stage of the review and inform any future options that may be presented to the community for formal consultation.

Council is legislatively required to review the Dog Control Bylaw at this time (as per the Local Government Act 2002). Council are also required to review the Dog Control Policy alongside the Bylaw in accordance with section 10AA of the Dog Control Act 1996. It is important that the Bylaw and the Policy align to ensure that the enforcement and administration of the Bylaw and Policy are done consistently with our community and the community are aware of what is required of them to comply with the Bylaw and Policy.

Council would like to understand community views before deciding on any potential changes.

No, Council is required to review the current Dog Control Bylaw and Dog Control Policy as per legislative requirements. No decisions have been made around any potential changes to the bylaw or the policy. Before any decisions are made, we would like to know:

• What is important to our community?
• Are we focusing on the right issues?
• Do Council’s current rules and tools work well?

Your feedback will help Council decide what changes should be made to the existing bylaw and policy. 

We’re especially interested in:

• your real‑world experiences
• whether the issues mentioned in the survey affect your health and wellbeing and safety
• where rules are unclear or impractical
• what works well and should not be changed
• what doesn’t work and needs improvement.

This is early engagement, so your feedback will help us:

• confirm (or challenge) the perceived problems
• shape options for improvement
• decide whether a bylaw or other tools are needed.
  

Any future proposals will be consulted on separately.

Concerns about roaming dogs, aggressive dogs and dogs being kept under control are important issues for many people in the Waikato district. However, these matters are primarily governed by the Dog Control Act 1996 and Council's day-to-day animal control operations.

The purpose of the Dog Contr

Concerns about roaming dogs, aggressive dogs and dogs being kept under control are important issues for many people in the Waikato district. However, these matters are primarily governed by the Dog Control Act 1996 and Council's day-to-day animal control operations.

The purpose of the Dog Control Policy and Bylaw review is different. It focuses on matters that Council can regulate through its Policy and Bylaw, such as where dogs can be exercised, areas where dogs may be prohibited or required to be on a lead, and other local dog control rules.

While feedback about roaming and aggressive dogs is still valuable and helps us understand community concerns, some of these issues are addressed through national legislation and enforcement rather than through changes to the Dog Control Policy or Bylaw.

ol Policy and Bylaw review is different. It focuses on matters that Council can regulate through its Policy and Bylaw, such as where dogs can be exercised, areas where dogs may be prohibited or required to be on a lead, and other local dog control rules.

While feedback about roaming and aggressive dogs is still valuable and helps us understand community concerns, some of these issues are addressed through national legislation and enforcement rather than through changes to the Dog Control Policy or Bylaw.

The Dog Control Act has a specific definition of a working dog. In general, it is a dog kept mainly for a recognised working purpose, rather than as a companion or pet. This includes disability assist dogs, dogs used for herding or driving stock, pest control dogs, and dogs used for certain Police, government, security, conservation and emergency management work. The Act also allows Council to declare additional dogs or classes of dogs as working dogs in certain circumstances.