Torika Tokalau

New regional dog rules have been adopted by Auckland Council, which includes how many dogs one person can walk at a time, and where.

The changes included updates on leash, off leash and dog free areas at nine regional parks, and a limit on the number of dogs that can be walked at once.

Councillor Josephine Bartley said the review of Auckland's Dog Policy and Bylaw was needed so everyone could enjoy Auckland's shared spaces safely.

"We know how much Aucklanders love getting out with their dogs, particularly in our beautiful regional parks," Bartley said.

"Our dog rules aim to carefully accommodate these needs as well as those of others who also want to use shared outdoor spaces safely and freely."

Qualified dog walkers will be allowed to walk up to 12 dogs at once, on or off-leash, as long as they kept under control.

To walk up to 12 dogs, dog walkers must register with the council and follow the conditions attached to their registration.

Other dog owners can walk a maximum of four dogs at once, with two off leash, as long as they are kept under control.

"We have listened to public feedback and recognise, for example, that commercial dog walking is a growing industry with many walkers regularly using Auckland's public spaces."

To support this to be done in a safe and responsible way, council was introducing a registration system, she said.

"This will allow commercial dog walkers to walk a higher number of dogs, as long as they keep them under control and stick to the conditions, so we can all enjoy our public places."

The limit of how many dogs can be walked at once will come into effect from 1 January, 2026.

Changes at regional parks will come into effect from 1 August.

On leash, off leash and dog-free areas have been updated in nine regional parks.

They are - Auckland Botanic Gardens, Hunua Ranges Regional Park, Long Bay Regional Park, Mahurangi Regional Park, Pākiri Regional Park, Shakespear Regional Park, Tāpapakanga Regional Park, Waitawa Regional Park and Whakanewha Regional Park.

Additional work is being done to finalise changes to dog rules at Te Ārai Regional Park.

"Dogs are clearly an important part of our lives - by the end of 2024, more than 135,000 dogs were registered in Tāmaki Makaurau.

"But our regional parks are also home to native species like the northern dotterel and critically endangered fairy tern, and unfortunately, dogs do pose a threat to these birds and their habitats."

You can find the full list of dog access rules in the council's Policy on Dogs here.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

This article was originally published by RNZ