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New Zealand has announced plans to ban greyhound racing, citing an “unacceptably high” injury rate.
The sport has long faced criticism in the country, with some breeders accused of mistreating or doping animals.
The government plans to close the industry for the next 20 months, to give time to rehome racing dogs and for people in the industry to transition to other jobs.
In addition to New Zealand, commercial greyhound racing is permitted in Australia, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“Despite the significant progress made by the greyhound racing industry in recent years, the percentage of injured dogs remains persistently high and the time has come to appeal for the benefit of the animals,” said the minister for racing, Winston Peters, in a statement. Tuesday.
“This is not a decision that is taken lightly, but is ultimately driven by protecting the welfare of racing dogs,” he said.
The government on Tuesday introduced a bill to prevent the unnecessary killing of racing dogs, which “will be passed urgently,” said Peters, who is also New Zealand’s deputy prime minister.
New laws will be introduced to allow an end to greyhound racing, he said.
There have been three reviews of the greyhound racing industry over the last decade, and all of them recommended significant changes.
In 2021, 232 racing greyhounds died and 900 were injured, according to local media reports.
The government put the industry “on notice” in September of that year, but deaths and injuries continued. The animal rights group Safe recorded more than 2,500 injuries and almost 30 deaths in the following two and a half years.
A key task now is to rehome the approximately 2,900 racing greyhounds that remain in the country.
Animal rights groups that have long fought to shut down the industry applauded Tuesday’s announcement, with Safe calling it a “monumental victory for animal rights.”
New Zealand’s oldest animal welfare charity, the SPCA, said it is “ecstatic” by the move and called on other countries that allow greyhound racing to follow suit.
However, Greyhound Racing New Zealand, an industry association comprising greyhound racing clubs across the country, said it is “devastated” by the government’s proposal.
“The greyhound racing community is stunned by the announcement, with many expressing concern about the potential cultural and economic void this decision will create,” said association president Sean Hannan.
Greyhound racing represents 8.5% of New Zealand’s racing industry, valued at NZ$1.3 billion (US$760 million; £595), with just over 1,000 full-time jobs, as the data showed.
“The government’s decision to close the industry is deeply disappointing as it overlooks the significant progress we have made,” said Hannan, who also urged the government to reconsider its decision.
