Stock owners are required to ensure their animals are securely fenced at all times and are liable for a range of fees if their stock gets out.
Stock management is controlled by Tauranga City Council bylaws, the Impounding Act 1955 and the Fencing Act 1978. The following animals are considered to be stock:
- horse
- cattle
- deer
- ass
- mule
- sheep
- pig or goat.
Note: pigs and goats are not allowed to be kept within the Tauranga City boundary except on rural zoned land.
Stock on the road
If you see stock loose on a state highway, please contact the Police or NZTA immediately. Council staff can't respond to stock in these situations.
If the roaming stock is not on a state highway please contact us. If it is obvious where the stock has come from you may be able to return them to the paddock.
If the stock is likely to cause danger to road users, you may need to stay to warn other drivers until help arrives.
Stock owners
Horses and cattle must be kept more than five metres from the nearest dwelling or neighbouring premises.
All stock must be confined on all sides by a proper and adequate stock proof fencing and make sure you:
- keep the fences well maintained
- lock or spring load gates
- regularly test electric fences
- put a contact phone number on horse covers.
Stock on the road is a serious hazard. If your stock stray onto a roadway you will be liable for:
- any damages in the event of an accident, this may include criminal charges
- any costs incurred as a result of your stock being impounded by council.
A stock proof fence is defined as being “a wire fence, having 7 or 8 wires properly strained, the posts to be of durable timber, metal, or reinforced concrete, and not more than 5 m apart, and securely rammed and, in hollows or where subject to lifting through the strain of the wire, to be securely footed, or stayed with wire; the battens (droppers) to be affixed to the wires and of durable timber, metal or plastic, evenly spaced, and not fewer than 3 between posts; the wires to be galvanised and of 2.5 mm high tensile steel or 4 mm steel or its equivalent; the bottom wire to be not more than 125 mm from the ground, the next 3 wires to be not more than 125 mm apart; and the top wire or rail to be not less than 1 m from the ground”.
Stock on private property
If your stock stray onto private property you will be liable for:
- any damage caused by the stock
- trespass and sustenance costs claimed by the owner of the property
- any costs incurred from your stock being impounded by council
If any stock stray onto your property you may:
- return the stock to the owner or arrange with the owner to collect the stock
- impound the stock for up to 48 hours on your property
- impound the stock and arrange with council to have them transported to our stockyard
You may be able to claim damages, grazing fees and other costs, refer to the Impounding Act 1955 for more information.