TITLE: New Zealand Passes Legislation to End Greyhound Racing Industry
BODY:
On April 2, 2026, the New Zealand Parliament passed the Racing Industry (Closure of Greyhound Racing Industry) Amendment Bill with overwhelming cross-party support, receiving 112 votes to 11 at its third and final reading. Racing Minister Winston Peters welcomed the passage of the legislation, stating it reflects the clear will of New Zealanders and delivers certainty for animal welfare, industry participants, and the public.
The decision to end greyhound racing follows independent reviews conducted in 2013, 2017, and 2021 that documented serious animal welfare concerns. Despite improvements made to the industry, injury and death rates remained unacceptably high, resulting in the sport losing its social licence. The ban aligns with a wider global shift away from greyhound racing, with the sport now surviving in only a small number of countries. Following New Zealand's announcement, further jurisdictions including Scotland, Wales, and Tasmania have signalled they will also end the sport.
The legislation enables the establishment of a transition agency to oversee the wind-down of racing and the rehoming of dogs. The transition agency will be headed by current members of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on greyhound racing: Heather Simpson (chairperson), Murray Johnson, and Dr Lindsay Burton, with a fourth member to be appointed. The agency's key responsibilities include providing assistance to greyhound owners for dog care and rehoming, partnering with existing rehoming agencies to expand capacity, delivering retraining and redeployment support for industry workers through the Ministry of Social Development, and providing mental health and wellbeing support services for affected individuals.
The ban on greyhound racing takes effect from August 1, 2026, allowing time for a responsible and carefully managed transition with dedicated funding and support mechanisms in place.