Auckland Council has recently agreed to give the local community more time to find a compromise on proposed dog access restrictions at Forestry Beach, also known as Te Ārai South.

At a full council meeting, Rodney Councillor Greg Sayers successfully introduced an amendment to the wider Dog Bylaw review, which was unanimously supported by all councillors. The amendment pauses the implementation of a total dog ban and returns the matter to the community to propose a compromise by August, when councillors will vote on a final outcome.

Initial compromise ideas suggest allowing off-leash dog access from the car park to the stream, with dogs prohibited beyond that point. The southern end of the beach is considered more environmentally sensitive due to bird nesting activity, while the northern end sees the most human activity and is less likely to support nesting birds due to high tide reach.

The proposal to prohibit dogs along large parts of the Te Ārai coastline has drawn significant community backlash. On 4 February, more than 30 dog owners gathered at Forestry Beach to protest the planned restrictions, which would confine off-leash dogs to a small area near Te Ārai Point (Quarry Beach). With neighbouring beaches like Pakiri and Te Ārai North already dog-free zones, many locals argued the changes would leave them with no nearby options for exercising their pets.

Auckland Council has cited the need to protect endangered native species such as dotterels as the reason for the restrictions. However, long-time residents say they’ve never observed these birds at Forestry Beach and question the evidence connecting dog activity to environmental harm. Protesters have also pointed to other nearby activities—like tree felling, sand mining, and land development—as posing a greater threat to local ecosystems.

The proposed Forestry Beach ban is part of a broader Auckland-wide review of dog access rules. The review covers 14 regional parks, including Mahurangi, Tawharanui, and Wenderholm, and includes proposals to set a limit on the number of dogs one person can walk at once, as well as updates to dog access rules at 64 local parks and beaches.

Public feedback on the proposed changes closed on 23 February. Residents were encouraged to submit their views through online forms, emails, phone calls, and public consultation events held throughout February.