But a spokesperson for Racing Minister Winston Peters says the decision was not taken lightly and was based on evidence and analysis. Peters earlier said the decision was ultimately driven by protecting the welfare of racing dogs.
Waikato Greyhound Racing Club vice-president Corey Steele comes from a long line of greyhound breeders and trainers going back to the hare coursing days.
His granddad bred the 1989 Auckland Cup winner.
“I’m always told that I was born with a collar and lead in my hand, and I got my trainer’s licence at 18,” the 29-year-old said.
The Government intends to phase out greyhound racing over the next 20 months. Photo / Yvette Bodiam
“I run my own kennels on my parents’ property and it’s all I’ve ever known.
“In 2022, Greyhound Racing New Zealand implemented new rules and regulations around greyhound welfare which are stricter than New Zealand’s current animal control bylaws.
“Many trainers spent tens of thousands on improvements to their kennels, facilities and transportation.
“All indications were that once these welfare changes were in place, then the industry would be out of the spotlight, so the ban announcement really came from left field.”
The spokesperson for the Racing Minister said the decision to ban racing was not taken lightly and was “not a political decision, but one based on data-based evidence, and analysis.”
“The decision follows three major reviews of the greyhound racing industry over the past decade, each outlining serious concerns.
“It’s acknowledged that a concerted programme of work over recent years to improve animal welfare in the sport has been undertaken to respond to those findings.
“It is important to acknowledge the work done by Greyhound Racing New Zealand to make the industry safer.
“They have made progress, particularly in reducing the number of dogs dying. However, despite progress, there is a persistent rate of injury which shows no sign of reducing despite changes in the industry.
“The Racing Minister looked at whether stricter regulation would allow racing to continue safely but saw no evidence that injury rates would significantly decline – injury rates have remained persistently and stubbornly high."
Steele said Greyhound Racing New Zealand and the Waikato Greyhound Racing Club had invested heavily in track management and infrastructure at the Waikato home track at Cambridge Raceway.
“There would be 10 job losses immediately from the club if the ban goes ahead and the raceway would lose $100,000 in income from hosting the greyhound racing.”
Greyhound trainers breed two to five years in advance, investing financially in semen from top sires overseas, so any investment in breeding this season would have been wasted money.
Steele said the Waikato club had given its 100% support to Greyhound Racing New Zealand and its attempts to get the decision overturned.
The spokesperson said the decision was consistent with international practice.
“Only a handful of countries and jurisdictions still allow greyhound racing.
“New Zealand has become out of step with the rest of the world. Recently Wales became the latest country to announce the cessation of greyhound racing.”
Rehoming greyhounds
A rehomed greyhound and owner track walk at an open day at Cambridge Raceway. Photo: Catherine Fry
Ex-racing greyhound owner and previous Waikato club committee member and president Jenny Bartlett has been immersed in the greyhound industry for over 15 years and has two retired greyhounds.
“GRNZ rules already prevent euthanasia of racing greyhounds unless a vet certifies it as the only solution, and GRNZ invests heavily in veterinary treatment, rehabilitation and rehoming of non-competing dogs.
Bartlett is passionate about promoting greyhound rehoming to the public and instigated the successful greyhound public open days at Cambridge Raceway where new owners of retired greyhounds gather to walk the track and learn about their dog’s racing life.
“Great Mates Kennels countrywide are fully funded by GRNZ and take all retired and rehabilitated greyhounds.
“They are health checked and desexed before they enter the programme.
“The hounds are helped to adjust to a new life as a pet.”
Next, organisations such as May Hounds, Nightrave Greyhounds, KiwiKiwi Hounds and Greyhounds as Pets rehome the hounds.
Rehoming is a careful process because the welfare of the greyhound is the priority.
The GRNZ Under-30 Young Achievers Award winner 2023-24, 21-year-old Chloe Watson, has her livelihood invested in the greyhound industry along with the rest of her family.
She has been working with greyhounds since she was 8, handling them since 14 and training from 18, and has a certificate in Canine Behaviour and Training.
Watson and her sister Zahra work between adjoining properties.
One is where their aunt, Hayley Mullane, runs a racing team of 40 dogs, and the other is where their mum, Grace Harrison, runs rehabilitation kennels under the Rehab to Rehoming programme run and funded by the national body for injured racing dogs.
Injured greyhounds are treated by specialist Matamata vet Steve McGill, and Watson works with the dogs to rehabilitate them to prepare for rehoming as pets.
“My partner, Anthony Cleeve, along with his father Garry Cleeve and the rest of his family, have about 100 dogs, so that’s around 150 greyhounds between just two family-run kennels.
“We’ve all basically received a redundancy letter and it is only just starting to hit home.
“We’re all freaking about the concept that in 20 months from now, 3000-plus greyhounds will need rehoming.”
SPCA scientific officer Dr Alison Vaughan said a Ministerial Advisory Committee appointed by the Minister was leading the planning and oversight of the wind-down of the greyhound racing industry, including the transition of greyhounds into pet homes, both here in New Zealand and overseas.
“Last week, SPCA met with this Ministerial Advisory Committee, which is currently in the information-gathering stage.”
Vaughan said rehoming greyhounds from the racing industry would require careful planning and collaboration between all parties.
“Our priority is the welfare of greyhounds, and we are committed to supporting the committee and working with all stakeholders, including the racing industry, to ensure greyhounds are well cared for and placed in loving, suitable homes.”
Watson was also concerned about the financial impact of the greyhound racing ban on the business community that supported the greyhound industry.
“There’s suppliers of meat and kibble, veterinary support, supplements, massage creams and gels, equipment such as muzzles, leads, collars and coats, plus trailers and vans that have been converted to transport greyhounds.”
The Racing Minister’s spokesperson said a key task would be the rehoming of the estimated 2900 racing greyhounds in New Zealand.
An advisory committee had been appointed to help manage the transition process.
“The Committee members are Heather Simpson (chair) who has extensive experience in governance, and the regulatory framework for acing, Murray Johnson who has policy expertise in the racing industry, and veterinarian Lindsay Burton who has extensive knowledge about animal welfare. They will provide advice on ensuring animal welfare, and support for those involved in the industry.
“The greyhound racing industry is not expected to come up with its own solution for the rehoming of dogs and transitioning out of greyhound racing. The Committee is working hard on developing a framework to help meet both those challenges. An update on that work will be provided to the Minister in the near future.
“The legislation passed under urgency to prevent the unnecessary euthanising of racing dogs was not a reflection on the large number of responsible, professional owners, but a safeguard against some of the ‘fringe’ operators who presented a real risk of animals being needlessly killed.”
OnTrack is an organisation dedicated to making mental health a priority in the racing industry.
Anyone needing support can contact them at www.ontrack.org.nz or call its helpline on 0800 667 224.
Ban announcement
The proposal to ban the sport, announced in December, followed three critical reviews of the industry and a persistently high number of dogs being injured in races that Racing Minister Winston Peters said was “unacceptable”.
“This is not a decision that is taken lightly but is ultimately driven by protecting the welfare of racing dogs,” he said.
The sport won’t stop immediately but will be phased out gradually over the next 20 months to allow time to rehome the estimated 2900 racing dogs in the industry.
This would mean the last official greyhound racing event in New Zealand would be in July 2026 if not sooner.
In the most recent 2023-24 season, Greyhound Racing New Zealand’s animal welfare report said nine dogs were euthanised because of injuries suffered during a race, up from seven the season before; 224 dogs suffered serious injuries and a further 672 had injuries classified as “minor and medium” in the past season, according to the report.
The move to ban greyhound racing will be subject to a select committee process where public submissions on the plan will be considered.
