New regional dog rules are being introduced to ensure everyone can safely enjoy the city’s outdoor spaces—people, pets, and wildlife alike. Following strong community feedback, updates approved on 26 June include revised on-leash, off-leash, and dog-free areas across nine regional parks, along with new guidelines on how many dogs can be walked at once.
From 1 January 2026, most dog owners will be able to walk up to four dogs (two off-leash), while registered professional walkers can walk up to 12 dogs under clear conditions. These changes aim to strike a fair balance between the needs of dog lovers and the protection of native species in our shared spaces.
The rules are part of Auckland’s Dog Policy and Bylaw. Councillor Josephine Bartley is chair of Auckland Council’s Regulatory and Safety Committee. She says regularly reviewing the rules helps to keep them clear and up to date so everyone can enjoy our shared spaces safely.
“We’ve listened to feedback from Aucklanders and looked to strike a fair balance – both on the number of dogs that can be walked at once, and how we manage dog access across our regional parks.
“We know how much Aucklanders love getting out with their dogs, particularly in our beautiful regional parks. Our dog rules aim to carefully accommodate these needs as well as those of others who also want to use shared outdoor spaces safely and freely.
“We also need to take care of vulnerable, native wildlife. Dogs are clearly an important part of our lives – by the end of 2024, more than 135,000 dogs were registered in Tāmaki Makaurau. But our regional parks are also home to native species like the northern dotterel and critically endangered fairy tern, and unfortunately, dogs do pose a threat to these birds and their habitats.
“Thank you to everyone who took part in this consultation. We received a huge amount of feedback and it’s very encouraging to see so many people help shape the decisions that affect our communities. Striking a balance with these rules helps everyone to enjoy our shared outdoor spaces together,” she says.
The changes at regional parks will come into effect from 1 August 2025, and the new limit on the number of dogs that can be walked at once comes into effect from 1 January 2026.
Paw and order: What dog owners need to know
How many dogs can I walk at once?
Following public consultation, Auckland Council is introducing new rules about how many dogs can be walked at once. They reflect the ability of qualified dog walkers to walk a higher number of dogs:
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Qualified dog walkers can walk up to 12 dogs at once, on or off-leash, as long as they are kept under control. To walk up to 12 dogs, qualified dog walkers must register with the council and follow the conditions attached to their registration.
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Other dog owners can walk a maximum of four dogs at once, with two off-leash, as long as they are kept under control.
Councillor Bartley says the new system aims to support all dog walkers to use Auckland’s public spaces responsibly.
“We have listened to public feedback and recognise, for example, that commercial dog walking is a growing industry with many walkers regularly using Auckland’s public spaces.
“To support this to be done in a safe and responsible way, we are introducing a registration system. This will allow qualified dog walkers to walk a higher number of dogs, as long as they keep them under control and stick to the conditions, so we can all enjoy our public places,” she says.
The new rules will be introduced on 1 January 2026, to give time for the council to set the conditions and for industry to prepare and adjust to the new requirements. More information on the registration process and conditions will be published on the council’s website later this year.
Which regional parks do the changes cover?
On leash, off leash and dog-free areas have been updated in nine regional parks. They are:
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Auckland Botanic Gardens
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Hunua Ranges Regional Park
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Long Bay Regional Park
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Mahurangi Regional Park
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Pākiri Regional Park
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Shakespear Regional Park
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Tāpapakanga Regional Park
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Waitawa Regional Park
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Whakanewha Regional Park
The Governing Body agreed to some additional work being done before finalising changes to dog rules at Te Ārai Regional Park.
You can find the full list of dog access rules in the council’s Policy on Dogs.
Can I let my dog off-leash at any of these parks?
While the leash is being tightened in some parks, a number of the parks that have been reviewed have large areas where you can exercise your pup off-leash as long as they are under control. You can find out more in the Policy on Dogs.
There are plenty of great places to walk your dog in Auckland. To find out more here or at the Auckland Council website.
