New Zealand’s Racing Minister, Winston Peters, cited animal rights concerns as the reason for a forthcoming ban on greyhound racing.
The government plans to phase out greyhound racing in the country over a 20-month period. This timeframe was chosen to enable the rehoming of some 2,900 racing dogs and to provide a transition period for industry stakeholders.
To initiate the ban, the government will introduce legislation to the New Zealand Parliament, the Racing Industry (Unlawful Destruction of Specified Greyhounds) Amendment Bill. This bill is to be ‘passed under urgency’ to prevent any unnecessary killings of dogs.
Further legislation can be expected after this, including a bill to make any necessary amendments to the Racing Industry Act 2020, which governs New Zealand’s horse racing and greyhound racing sectors. This will be launched in 2025.
“This is not a decision that is taken lightly but is ultimately driven by protecting the welfare of racing dogs,” Peters remarked.
“Despite significant progress made by the greyhound racing industry in recent years, the percentage of dogs being injured remains persistently high and the time has come to make a call in the best interest of the animals.”
The decision follows three reviews into New Zealand dog racing over the past decade, initiated after animal welfare concerns were repeatedly raised.
Safe, an animal rights group, asserts that there have been 2,500 injuries and nearly 30 deaths in the time since the industry was placed on notice by the government in September 2021.
Animal welfare and charity organisations have responded positively to the government’s decision. Unsurprisingly, the sports’ stakeholders have not taken the news well, with the Greyhound Racing New Zealand taking to social media.
Sean Hannan, the association’s Chair, said: “We are extremely disappointed that the government has not recognised the work the industry has done to address areas of concern – to the extent it now leads the wider racing industry with its commitment to animal welfare.
“This decision is not just about the sport – it affects families, businesses, and communities who have dedicated their lives to caring for and racing greyhounds.”
Once the sport is fully banned in New Zealand it will leave just four countries where commercial greyhound racing continues – Australia, the US, the UK and Ireland.
The sport continues to face pressure in these countries too, however. Animal rights concerns have repeatedly been raised in the UK, prompting the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) to introduce major welfare initiatives.
Two years ago, three prominent UK charities – RSPCA, Blue Cross and Dogs Trust – called for a ban of greyhound racing in the UK, citing issues that ‘have not and cannot be resolved’. The Scottish SPCA had previously called for a ban in Scotland.
