From August 1st, Auckland Council will roll out updated dog access rules at nine regional parks, with more changes coming on 1 January 2206, including how many dogs can be walked at once.

The changes are part of the council’s updated Dog Policy and Bylaw, adopted by Mayor Wayne Brown and councillors on 26 June.

The decision follows extensive community consultation, with thousands of submissions from dog lovers and concerned locals.

Dog access rules have been updated for nine popular parks, including Long Bay, Shakespear, Whakanewha, and Tāpapakanga.

Some areas will now require dogs to be on leash, others remain dog-free, while many will still offer off-leash zones if dogs are under control.

In a notable shift, a new cap has been placed on how many dogs can be walked at once:

• Qualified dog walkers can walk up to 12 dogs (with registration)
• Everyone else is limited to four dogs at a time, with no more than two off leash

These limits will apply from 1 January 2026, giving dog walkers time to prepare and for the council to finalise registration conditions.

While this might not directly impact many Hibiscus Coast beaches or local parks, it’s something Coasties should keep in mind if they walk their dogs further afield.

Shakespear Regional Park, a favourite weekend spot for many local families, is one of the parks affected.

The changes aim to balance the joy of dog walking with public safety and wildlife protection, especially for vulnerable species like the fairy tern and northern dotterel.

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