There will be dog-walking changes around four of Puketāpapa’s parks and reserves from Friday 1 August – with new rules for where dogs can be taken on or off-leash put in place.
The changes follow consultation earlier this year, which asked for views on how council should respond to opportunities for more dog friendly access or increased conflicts between people with their dogs and other users on a number of regional and local parks across Tāmaki Makaurau.
Six Puketāpapa parks and reserves featured in the consultation: Freeland Reserve, John Moore Reserve, Monte Cecilia Park, Smallfield Reserve, Underwood Park and Walmsley Park, with proposed changes from off-leash to on-leash, and vice-versa.
Following on from the public engagement, the Puketāpapa Local Board decided earlier this year four of the six locations will be changing. The council has agreed to delay the implementation of the new dog control rules at Monte Cecilia Park pending the outcome of a legal challenge by Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia.
Changes from Friday 1 August 2025
Parks changing from off-leash to on-leash:
- Underwood Park
- Freeland Reserve
- Walmsley Park: except in the area between Sandringham Road Extension, Oakley Creek and the entrance to (but not including) Sheppard Avenue accessway.
Parks changing from on-leash to off-leash:
- Smallfield Reserve
No change
- John Moore Reserve (reserve stays as is on-leash)
Monte Cecilia Park
- The council has agreed to delay the implementation of the new dog control rules at Monte Cecilia Park pending the outcome of a legal challenge by Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia.
- Dogs can still be off-leash (and must be under their owner’s control) in the naturally formed bowl on the north-eastern side of the park between Pah Homestead and the Knoll.
- Dogs must still be on-leash in all other parts of the park
Non-compliance
The ‘where you can walk your dog’ webpage and signage will be updated on or from 1 August.
The Animal Management Central Team will be responsible for Monte Cecilia Park and have increased their scheduled patrols with the team at Monte Cecilia Park on a regular basis and will respond to complaints as they are received.
To report incidents of non-compliance, please contact Auckland Council on 09 301 0101 or 0800 462 685.
