Taking the decision, the government said the greyhound industry has been on notice over animal welfare concerns for several years. Three reviews into racing over the past decade all recommended significant changes within the sector.
Peters said more detailed legislation will come to the table next year. However, he did reveal that the government intends to wind down greyhound racing over a 20-month period. This, he said, will enable the rehoming of dogs and provide a transition period for people involved in the industry.
“This isn’t a decision taken lightly but is ultimately driven by protecting the welfare of racing dogs,” Peters said. “Despite significant progress made by the greyhound racing industry in recent years, the percentage of dogs being injured remains persistently high and the time has come to make a call in the best interest of the animals.
“We acknowledge work done by Greyhound Racing New Zealand to improve safety. While fewer dogs are dying, injury rates, while down slightly, have plateaued and are unacceptably high.”
Early legislation to prevent killing of racing dogs
Ahead of introducing legislation next year, the government has today put forward one bill in relation to the market shutdown. The Racing Industry (Unlawful Destruction of Specified Greyhounds) Amendment Bill aims to prevent the unnecessary killing of racing.
Wilson said the government would seek to pass this under urgency to help protect racing greyhounds.
“Further legislation to enable the end to greyhound racing is required,” Wilson said. “A bill to make the necessary changes to the Racing Industry Act 2020 will be introduced in 2025.
“A key task will be the rehoming of the estimated 2,900 racing greyhounds in New Zealand.”
To support next year’s legislation, the government will run a full select committee process. This, Wilson said, will allow all stakeholders and interested parties to have their say.
The government has also appointed an advisory committee to help manage the transition process, should next year’s legislation pass. This committee will provide advice on ensuring animal welfare and support for those involved in greyhound racing.
“Keeping unwanted dogs safe is a priority,” Wilson says. The government is working with animal welfare organisations to establish programmes to support rehoming.”
More change in New Zealand
The announcement comes after the New Zealand government yesterday (9 December) also introduced legislation to extend the current monopoly TAB NZ holds for retail sports betting and horse racing wagering to also cover the online market.
Earlier this year, the government also announced it would regulate online casinos for the first time. In July, the government said it hopes to pass legislation for a licensing system in 2025.
A bill is due to be introduced next April and enacted before the end of 2025. The vetting and auction process will start in February 2026, with providers to start trading in April 2026. Some 15 licences will be available to online operators.
Also filed by Peters, this legislation extending the monopoly would amend the Racing Industry Act 2020. It would give TAB NZ a monopoly across the entire sports and horse racing betting market in New Zealand.
Peters said extending the monopoly model to online would increase revenue and support the wider industry. Establishing TAB NZ as the sole online operator, he added, would help protect consumers from illegal offshore sites.
The legislation also covers other amendments such as new powers for the minister to seek information from TAB NZ, regulatory oversight to prohibit other operators and regulation-making powers for harm prevention and minimisation. In addition, the bill would remove the point of consumption charge.
Cabinet papers filed on 9 September show several already-present operators have expressed interest in applying for an online gaming licence in the market. These include TAB NZ as well as SkyCity, 888, Bet365, Spin City, SpinBet and Super Group.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/legal-compliance/new-zealand-to-end-greyhound-racing/
