Animals on beaches complaints
You can exercise your dog(s) on most of our beaches all year round, as long as you have your dog under control and do not allow it to walk up to people or their property uninvited.
There are some exceptions; you can’t take your dog to Pilot Bay, Mauao, Mount Main Beach and Moturiki (Leisure Island). This includes walkways, boardwalks, grassed areas, the foreshore and the dunes. This is to protect nesting wildlife in these areas and because they are areas of high usage by the public.
You can find the leash control areas or dog prohibited areas and a lot more information on our animal services webpage.
Leash control or dog prohibited areas
If you wish to lodge a dog or animal related complaint, please call our council contact centre on 07 577 7000.
Depending on the type of complaint, the seriousness of the incident, and/or whether there have been any previous complaints, the response from us will vary. Options available to council are written warnings, abatement notices, infringement or prosecution. If it is a serious incident, it is likely the dog will be impounded until the matter is resolved.
More information on animal complaints
Sick, injured or dead wildlife, including penguins, seals, birds can be reported to the Department of Conservation (DoC) on 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468)
Dog attacks
To report a dog attack/dog bite call the contact centre as soon as possible. We take dog attacks/bites very seriously and will act as quickly as possible.
Animal welfare
Any complaints about animal welfare, including animal ill-treatment or cruelty, should be made to Ministry of Primary Industries on 0800 00 83 33 or SPCA on 07 578 0245.