Here is a list of places where you can exercise your dog. Remember to take something to use as a pooper-scooper, and keep the dog under control.
In a number of areas, dogs are not allowed on beaches over the summer or holiday periods, or from Labour Weekend until Easter.
Under the Dog Control Act, you can be fined $200 for having an unleashed dog in a public place.
Far North District
Dogs are banned from all playgrounds, Department of Conservation areas and wildlife areas. They are also banned from most beaches from 8am to 8pm between Labour Weekend and Easter. Dogs must be on a leash in most public places.
Rodney District
Specific parts of the following public land: Hatfields Beach, Western Reserve, Orewa, Amorino Park, Orewa, Cedar Reserve, Stanmore Bay, Brandon Reserve, Manly, Stillwater, Eyres Point, Te Arai, Wellsford, Mathieson Bay, Omaha, Point Wells, Big Omaha Wharf Rd, Whangateau.
ARC regional parks
Under review, so check first. In general, dogs are not allowed near wildlife areas, camp sites, farmed areas, scenic reserves, picnic areas, and must be on a lead at all times.
Auckland City
Dogs may be exercised off the leash in these areas:
Alberon Park, Awatea Reserve, Ayr St Reserve, Scarborough Reserve, Newmarket Park, Kelvin Rd Reserve, Portland Reserve, Regents Park, Ventnor Rd Reserve, Koraha Reserve, Waiata Reserve, Lingarth Reserve, Pt Erin Park, Bayfield Park, Craigavon Park, St Georges Reserve, Tony Segedin Reserve, Fonteyn Reserve, Francis St Reserve, Miranda Reserve, Dickey Reserve, Tutuki St Reserve, Moa Rd Reserve, Seddon Fields, Western Park, Waitati Place Reserve, Big King Reserve, Sandy Bay Reserve, Manukau Domain, Underwood Park, Walmsley Park, Waikowhai Park, Allan Johnstone Reserve, Aotea St Reserve, Churchill Park, Dingle Dell Reserve, Fancourt Reserve, Glendowie Park, Glover Park, Kenneth Small Reserve, Madills Farm, Mary Atkin Reserve, Maskell St Reserve, Patteson Ave Reserve, Pyatt Reserve, Merton Rd Reserve, Morrin Rd Reserve, Roberta Reserve, Ronaki Reserve, Waiatarua Reserve, Sierra Reserve, Pt England foreshore, Flatrock Reserve foreshore, Seaside Park foreshore, Gloucester Park West, Onehunga Bay North, Manukau Walkway.
Great Barrier Island
Designated areas on the following beaches and reserves: Mulberry Grove, Gooseberry Flats, Medlands Beach, Okupu Beach, Awana Beach, Okiwi.
Other islands in the Hauraki Gulf
Dogs are banned from the following Hauraki Gulf islands: Motuihe, Browns, Rangitoto, Motutapu, Little Barrier, Tiritiri Matangi and Rotoroa.
Dogs are banned from all Department of Conservation areas including camping grounds.
North Shore City
Dogs are not allowed on playing fields, playgrounds or wildlife parks at any time, or on beaches and foreshores from Labour Weekend to the end of daylight saving between 9am and 7pm. You can exercise your dog off the lead in all other council parks and reserves at any time, provided the dog is under control. In all other public places dogs must be kept on a leash.
Waitakere City
Dogs are not allowed within 10m of a playground, sports field, people on a park, beach or reserve, or on a jetty or boat ramp. Outside these areas, dogs must be under control but not necessarily on a lead. Check the signs. Dogs may be exercised in the designated areas of the following beaches: Cornwallis, Huia, Kaitarakihi, Kakamatua, Karekare, Mill Bay (all of these are leash only), Piha, Whatipu.
Manukau City
Dogs may be exercised off the leash in these areas: Pt View Reserve, Clevedon, Marine Parade Reserve, Howick, Thomas Rd Reserve and Waterfront Rd Reserve, Mangere, Totara Park, Manurewa, Murphys Bush, Otara, McLeans Reserve, Pakuranga, Selfs Rd Reserve and Swaffield Rd Reserve, Papatoetoe.
Papakura District
For a map showing exercise areas phone customer services on (09) 977- 8900.
Franklin District
Dogs may be exercised off the leash in the following areas: Rooseville Reserve, Hickeys Reserve, Cape Hill Reserve, catchment reserve between Jackson Place and Ward St in Pukekohe, Rangiwhea Beach Reserve, reserve area along estuary access in Waiuku, Esplanade Reserve from Huia St to Totara St in Waiuku, Karioitahi Beach, Sunset Beach, Les Batkin Reserve, Centennial Reserve in Tuakau, Alexander Redoubt, Patumahoe Recreation Reserve, Waharau North Reserve.
Thames Coromandel District
Dogs are not permitted on any east coast beach and some beaches in the Coromandel ward from 9am to 7pm between December 15 and February 8. This restriction is extended to February 28 in Tairua and Pauanui, and also applies over Easter, Queen's Birthday and Labour Weekends.
Hamilton
Dogs can be exercised off a leash in designated areas of the following parks: Hamilton Gardens, Minogue Park, Innes Common, Melville Park, Pukete Farm Park, Beetham Park, Braithwaite Park, Bristol Park, Crawshaw Park, Dey Park, Porritt Stadium, Resthills Park, Tills Lookout.
Rotorua
Dogs can be exercised off a leash in the following areas: Reeme St Reserve, Western Rd Reserve, Boiell Park, Fairview Rd Reserve, Linton Park East, Blomfield St Reserve, Pullar Park, Wright Park, Simmonds Crescent Reserve, Boyes Park, Pererika St, McIntyre Ave, Larcy Rd Reserve, Coulter Rd Reserve, Corlett St, Morey St, Rotorua Racecourse, Jackson Park, Hannahs Bay Reserve, Hamurana. Dogs are not permitted on the playgrounds or sports fields on these reserves.
Taupo
Dogs can be exercised off a leash in the following areas: Control Gates Reserve, Spa Thermal Park, Kimberley Reserve, Tamatea Water Reserve, Titoki Water Reserve, Hawaii St Reserve, Seccombe Park, Besley Park, Te Rangiita/Waitetoko Lakeside Reserve, Waipapa Reserve (Turangi), Taupahi Rd Reserve, The Lakeshore Recreation Reserve, Kuratau Esplanade Reserve (excluding the beach area), Pukawa Common, Kowhai Flats, Mangakino Recreational Reserve (between the lake and golf course).
Tauranga District
No designated dog exercise areas. Dogs must be on a leash in all public and wilderness areas.
Western Bay of Plenty
All dogs must be under control in public areas. Dogs are banned from all beaches from the third Wednesday in December to the second Wednesday in February between 9am and 7pm, and from wilderness areas such as Omokoroa Domain and the Maketu and Pukehina spits.
Whakatane District
Dogs may be exercised in most recreational parks, except for conservation areas. They are also allowed on ocean beaches, except for highly populated areas.
Opotiki District
Dog control bylaws being upgraded. At present, there are no designated areas for exercising dogs.
Herald feature: When dogs attack
How you can help
A trust fund has been opened for 7-year-old dog attack victim Carolina Anderson. You can send a cheque to: Carolina Anderson Trust Account, BNZ, PO Box 46-294, Herne Bay, or donate over the internet to BNZ account number 020 248 000 3002-000.
The Herald is backing an appeal to raise money for a $150,000 operating-room microscope for Middlemore's plastic surgery unit. The microscope is essential in minute plastic surgery work such as reattaching nerves. Middlemore has two, used on Carolina Anderson and the victims of the Pipiroa sword attack, but they need replacing. Donations can be sent to: The Microsurgery Appeal, Editorial Department, New Zealand Herald, PO Box 706, Auckland.
