Transition agency will oversee wind-down of racing, rehoming of dogs
Winston Peters, racing minister, has commended the passage of the Racing Industry (Closure of Greyhound Racing Industry) Amendment Bill after its third and final reading, with 112 votes across parties supporting the legislation and 11 against it.
“It's a rare moment when Parliament speaks with such a strong majority, principled voice,” Peters said in a news release from the government. “Those moments matter, and this is one of them.”
He shared that the legislation seeks to end greyhound racing on 1 August 2026 and ensure a safe, orderly, responsible, and compassionate transition.
“This Bill underpins a structured transition, with funding, agencies, and support mechanisms in place,” Peters said.
He explained that a new transition agency will:
“There has been a great deal of misinformation suggesting that people and dogs are being abandoned,” Peters said in the news release. “That is simply wrong.”
The members of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on greyhound racing – chairperson Heather Simpson, Murray Johnson, Dr Lindsay Burton, and a fourth member – are leading the transition agency.
Peters acknowledged clear evidence of serious animal welfare concerns that came to light through independent reviews in 2013, 2017, and 2021.
“While improvements were made, those gains plateaued and injury/death rates remained unacceptably high to the point the sport had lost its social licence,” he said in the news release.
According to Peters, while the government had to take action, it did not do so lightly. He added the bill reflects New Zealanders’s will and offers certainty for animal welfare, industry players, and members of the public.
“This is a good day for greyhounds,” he said.
The government’s news release noted that the bill’s passage aligns with a worldwide shift away from greyhound racing.
According to the government, after New Zealand announced its plan to prohibit greyhound racing, Scotland, Wales, Tasmania, and other jurisdictions also stated their intentions to ban the sport. Only a few countries still engage in greyhound racing.
