The registration of dogs is a statutory obligation under the Dog Control Act 1996 and Council currently has around 1,400 dogs registered.

All dog owners must register their dog(s) with the Council in the district where the dog is kept, and all dogs must be registered by 1 July every year. If you have a new dog, or have an unregistered dog, you need to register your dog with the Council immediately or before the puppy is three months old.

If your dog is registered at another district and you move to Kawerau, you can have your dog registration transferred at no cost.

• Dog registration form for 2023 - 24 -  PDF 447 kB
• Dog registration fees for 2023 - 24 -  PDF .533 kB

When registering your dog you will need to provide the Council with your:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Contact address
• Address where the dog will ordinarily be kept
• Description of your dog - including breed, colour and any distinguishing marks
• Age of the dog
• Whether your dog is classified as dangerous or menacing and why
• The sex of the dog, including whether it is neutered or not
• Description of any tattoo or microchip that may provide permanent identification of your dog

If you have more than one dog on your property you will need to contact Council to apply for a kennel licence.

• Why should I register my dog?
• Why is it compulsory to supply my date of birth when registering my dog?
• When does the registration period start and finish each year?
• What do I do with the dog tag?
• Why do I pay a dog registration fee?
• What happens if I don’t register my dogs?
• If my dog dies, am I entitled to a refund?

Why should I register my dog?

Registering your dog makes it much easier for Dog Control to locate and identify dogs. It also helps us locating and identify owners in the case of wandering, lost or stolen dogs.

Information about your dog is kept in the local and national registers. It helps keep track of dogs whose owners have been charged by any Council and have a history of complaints against them. All dogs must be registered by 1 July of each year or before the dog is three months old. This is a legal requirement under Section 36 of the Dog Control Act 1996.

Why is it compulsory to supply my date of birth when registering my dog?

Your date of birth is required to enable us to distinguish your records from those of other people with the same name. Certainty of identification is required in the enforcement of the provisions of the Dog Control Act 1996.

When does the registration period start and finish each year?

The registration year is the same across all Councils and runs from 1 July each year to 30 June the following year.

What do I do with the dog tag?

Your dog’s registration tag must be attached to a collar worn on the neck of the dog you registered.

Why do I pay a dog registration fee?

Dog Registration fees provide funds for:

• Promoting better care and control of animals
• Responding to reports of uncontrolled dogs
• Receiving and caring for abandoned and impounded dogs
• Monitoring and enforcing the dog control bylaws and policy
• Implementing the Dog Control Act 1996
• Taking action against owners of unregistered and uncontrolled dogs
• Providing information and education to local schools and community

What happens if I don’t register my dogs?

If you fail to register your dog, you will be issued with a $300 infringement fee upon being caught with an unregistered dog. The information will be lodged in court, and you could be fined up to $3000.

If your dog remains unregistered, you may be issued with more $300 fines, or your dog could be uplifted and impounded. If it remains unregistered, it will be disposed of by Council staff and costs charged to you.

If my dog dies, am I entitled to a refund?

Yes. If your dog dies, you will need to notify the Council that your dog has died; we will send out a refund form for you to fill out, sign and return for us to process. It is important that you do this as soon as possible, as refunds are calculated on the number of full months left in the registration, from the date the Council receives the refund form.

If your dog has died, submit a Registration Fees Refund form.