• Auckland Council proposes limiting the number of dogs walked at once to six, with only three off-leash.
• The changes aim to balance dog-friendly and dog-free spaces, protecting wildlife and public safety.
• Feedback on the proposed rules is open until February 23.

Auckland Council proposes limiting the number of dogs that can be walked at once under a big shake-up of its canine rules.

In a statement this morning, the council said data shows that multiple dogs being walked together appears to be an emerging issue for Aucklanders, so a limit on the number of dogs that can be walked at the same time is proposed.

Under the proposed changes, people can walk a maximum of six dogs at once and only three of those dogs can be off a leash. This means a dog-walker could walk three dogs off a leash at once, or three dogs off a leash and an additional three dogs on a leash, or six dogs on a leash.

The changes being proposed are part of a regular review of Auckland’s dog policy, Dog Management Bylaw and local dog access rules.

In a preliminary survey in March last year, Aucklanders told the council that owners not picking-up after their dog, dogs wandering off-leash in on-leash areas and packs of dogs taking up pathways were of concern to them.

Auckland councillor Josephine Bartley and her dog Milo. Photo / Auckland Council

Councillor Josephine Bartley, chair of the council’s Regulatory and Safety Committee, said the proposals aim to strike a fair balance for everyone who uses Auckland’s public places.

She said the proposed changes aim to keep a good mix of dog-friendly and dog-free spaces so there are places for dogs, and anyone who is not a dog person, to enjoy.

“This will also help to protect vulnerable wildlife, like endangered shorebirds nesting on our beaches, and kauri in specific places.

“This aims to respond to the concerns in a way that’s fair and reasonable, without imposing unnecessary restrictions. Ultimately, everyone should feel safe and welcome to visit Auckland’s parks, beaches and public spaces – this is at the heart of these proposals," she said.

Bartley – a dog owner – said dog rules are a topic that people are passionate about, and urged people to have a say.

The changes aim to balance dog-friendly and dog-free spaces in Tāmaki Makaurau. They cover dog access rules (where dogs can go off a leash, on a leash, or are not allowed) at 14 regional parks and 64 places in local parks and beaches across the region. New off-leash areas are recommended, as well as changes to keep dogs out of places with vulnerable wildlife, and to provide some places for the public to visit that are completely dog-free.

The proposed changes are planned to make the rules and dog bylaw clearer, including the need for any dogs classified as menacing and dangerous to be neutered if they move into the Auckland region, rules and exemptions for working dogs and dogs in vehicles, plus dog access rules for places such as council car parks and camping grounds.

Parks and beaches with proposed changes to local dog access rules include:

Central/West

• Muriwai Regional Park (change to policy wording only. No change to dog access rules.) 

• Whakanewha Regional Park (Waiheke) 

• Gooseberry Flat and Pah Beach (Aotea Great Barrier Island) 

• Sandhills Reserve (Aotea Great Barrier Island) 

• Madills Farm Recreation Reserve and Glover Park (Ōrākei) 

• Freeland Reserve (Puketāpapa) 

• John Moore Reserve (Puketāpapa) 

• Monte Cecilia Park (Puketāpapa) 

• Smallfield Reserve (Puketāpapa) 

• Underwood Park (Puketāpapa) 

• Walmsley Park (Puketāpapa) 

• Big Oneroa Beach (Waiheke)  

• Blackpool Beach (Waiheke) 

• Onetangi Beach (Waiheke) 

North

• Long Bay Regional Park 

• Mahurangi Regional Park 

• Pākiri Regional Park  

• Shakespear Regional Park 

• Tāwharanui Regional Park (change to policy wording only. No change to dog access rules.) 

• TeĀrai Regional Park 

• Wenderholm Regional Park (change to policy wording only. No change to dog access rules.) 

• Big Manly Beach (Hibiscus and Bays) 

• Tindalls Beach (Hibiscus and Bays) 

• Foreshore between Sulphur Beach Reserve and Gold Hole Reserve (Kaipātiki) 

• Kauri Glen Reserve (tracks between the Kauri Glen Road, Raymond Terrace and Tui Glen Road entrances) (Kaipātiki) 

• Kauri Park (including unformed road) (Kaipātiki) 

• Kauri Point Domain (from the end of Balmain Road to the junction with the track to Soldiers Bay) (Kaipātiki) 

• Kukari Park (Kaipātiki) 

• Leigh Scenic Reserve (Kaipātiki) 

• Muriel Fisher Reserve (Kaipātiki) 

• Soldiers Bay (Kaipātiki) 

• Soldiers Bay Reserve (Kaipātiki) 

• Te Ara Awataha Greenway (Kaipātiki) 

• Søren G Christensen Reserve (Kaipātiki) 

• 54 Tonar Street (Kaipātiki) 

• Parry Kauri Park (Rodney) 

• Snells Beach (Rodney) 

• Vera Reserve Baddeleys Road, Baddeleys Creek Reserve and Pigeon Place Accessway (Rodney) 

• Wonderview Road Esplanade (Rodney) 

• Rosedale Park (Upper Harbour)

South

•  Ambury Regional Park (change to policy wording only. No change to dog access rules.) 

• Auckland Botanic Gardens 

• Hunua Ranges Regional Park 

• Tāpapakanga Regional Park 

• Waitawa Regional Park 

• Clevedon Showground Reserve (Franklin) 

• Designated dog exercise areas (Franklin) 

• Kawakawa Bay Beach (Franklin)  

• Shell banks and coastal areas from Waiau Pa to Ellets Beach (Franklin) 

• Sports fields in former Franklin District Council area (Franklin)  

• Lloyd Elsmore Park near Howick Historical Village (Howick) 

Feedback on the new rules runs from today until February 23.