100 signatures reached
To: Far North District Council
Protect Our Community and Tamariki: Address Roaming and Dangerous Dogs in Ahipara
Far North District Council needs to take stronger, more consistent action to address roaming and uncontrolled dogs in Ahipara before serious injury or loss of life occurs.
Why is this important?
Roaming and dangerous dogs have been an ongoing issue in Ahipara for years, with repeated calls and reports made to the Council with no real or lasting change.
Dogs are part of our community, but with that comes responsibility. When dogs are not properly controlled or contained, the risk extends beyond one group — it affects tamariki, residents, visitors, and animals. Roaming dogs also have a serious impact on native wildlife, including kiwi and other ground-nesting birds, with conservation groups identifying roaming dogs as a significant cause of injury and death to these species.
Why is this important?
Roaming and dangerous dogs have been an ongoing issue in Ahipara for years, with repeated calls and reports made to the Council with no real or lasting change.
Dogs are part of our community, but with that comes responsibility. When dogs are not properly controlled or contained, the risk extends beyond one group — it affects tamariki, residents, visitors, and animals. Roaming dogs also have a serious impact on native wildlife, including kiwi and other ground-nesting birds, with conservation groups identifying roaming dogs as a significant cause of injury and death to these species.
Ahipara should be a place where families can walk, play, and live without fear — and where our natural environment is protected.
We are calling on Far North District Council to:
- Actively enforce existing dog control bylaws in Ahipara, with a clear focus on roaming and aggressive dogs
- Increase monitoring and follow-up on repeat reports of roaming dogs, rather than treating incidents as isolated events
- Review and strengthen rules around owning multiple dogs in residential neighbourhoods, particularly where containment cannot be demonstrated
- Ensure faster response times from animal control when roaming or aggressive dogs are reported
- Require clear containment, supervision, and accountability from dog owners to prevent further incidents
These actions are necessary to protect tamariki, residents, visitors, and animals in Ahipara, and to prevent further traumatic and dangerous incidents in our community.
Why is this important?
Our Ahipara community should not have to live in fear of roaming dogs. My kids saw a dog being attacked right in front of them — it was violent, chaotic, and traumatic. No child should have to witness that, and no Council should accept it as normal.
This is not about being anti-dog. It’s about keeping our community safe, ensuring people take responsibility for their pets, and preventing harm before it happens.