New Zealand's Minister for Racing, Winston Peters, announced that New Zealand will completely cease dog racing activities by 2026.
Minister Peters confirmed that although the decision was "not made hastily," the government has decided to prioritize the welfare of racing dogs. As such, New Zealand has planned a 20-month cooling-off period for the dog racing industry.
This period will allow industry professionals and participants an opportunity to prepare for the business closure and to properly rehome the racing dogs. Following the current 20-month trajectory, dog racing competitions will be officially banned in New Zealand by the third quarter of 2026.
Discussing the motivation behind this decision, Minister Peters said: "Despite significant progress in the dog racing industry in recent years, the rate of injuries remains unacceptably high, and it is now time to make a decision in the best interest of the animals."
"We recognize the efforts of the New Zealand Greyhound Racing Association to improve safety. Although the number of dog fatalities has decreased, the injury rate has slightly dropped but has stabilized and remains unacceptably high."
In fact, the country's dog racing industry has been under strict scrutiny for animal welfare issues for some time, with three official reviews conducted over the past decade, all concluding that significant reforms are needed.
It is worth noting that in October, the investigation into dog racing in New South Wales was extended until April 2025.
Minister Peters continued: "Further legislation is needed to terminate dog racing. A bill to make necessary amendments to the Racing Industry Act 2020 will be submitted to Parliament in 2025. There will be a full select committee process so that everyone has the opportunity to express their opinions."
"A key task is to rehome approximately 2,900 racing dogs in New Zealand. We have appointed an advisory committee to help manage the transition process."
This week, more new racing regulations were announced in New Zealand's racing industry, aimed at strengthening the country's horse racing industry. Additionally, earlier today, the New Zealand Gambling Authority announced that it would take the Christchurch Casino to court on charges of suspected money laundering.
