Rules change for Christchurch dogs and owners
Christchurch City Council Newsline: 3rd November 2025
People with dogs have new rules to get familiar with across Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.
The Christchurch City Council reviewed its dog bylaw and policy over 2024 and 2025. During public consultation, many people shared their thoughts on how we should manage dogs in public places across the district. The updated rules came into effect on 3 November 2025.
The Council’s Animal Management Manager, Lionel Bridger, says some are new rules, some are changed rules, some rules stayed the same, and some were relaxed.
“We’ve got some new areas where dogs are prohibited and in some places leashing requirements have changed,” Mr Bridger says.
Christchurch has changed a lot over the past 10 years, he says. “We have more focus on habitat restoration and wildlife protection, and there are many more paths and other areas that are shared between people walking, biking, scooting and so on. We also have more dogs than ever before.
“The rules have been tightened in some places to keep people, wildlife, stock, the environment, and dogs safe.”
Mr Bridger says the Christchurch and Banks Peninsula District is dog friendly.
“We have around 45,000 dogs registered to around 39,000 owners per capita. That’s about one dog for every nine people.”
“That is why we rely on people knowing the rules and doing the right thing,” he says.
In some parts of New Zealand dogs must be leashed everywhere, except in specified off-leash areas.
“We didn’t want to take this approach”, Mr Bridger said. “We’d rather that restrictions are in place only where necessary, so that there are lots of opportunities for dogs to be exercised both on and off-leash.
An email outlining the rules was sent to registered dog owners, and information on the Council’s website was updated on 3 November 2025.
New rules have been set for the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor (former residential red zone) and for Te Kuru Wetlands in Halswell. The rules aim to balance wildlife protection and recreational access in these developing areas.
A new rule bans dogs from Te Ihutai Avon Heathcote Estuary, including the beach around Southshore Spit Reserve and near Shag Rock. The rules have also changed at Styx Mill Conservation Reserve.
“Some areas across the district are vital habitats where birds roost, rest, breed and or feed, and dogs pose a significant threat to them. This is the case in estuary, wetland and riverbank environments, especially for ground-nesting birds,” Mr Bridger says.
“We’ve listened to community feedback that wildlife in these areas need protection from dogs. A lot of dog owners shared that sentiment.”
There is a new rule that dogs must be leashed on paths in green spaces such as parks, and a limit on the number of dogs a person can walk together in a public space (four dogs), with only two off leash at a time in off-leash areas including dog parks.
“We’re working on an exemption process for people who have the skills required to exercise multiple dogs safely, and will have that ready in May 2026,” he says. “In the meantime, we’d like those people to follow all other rules, such as carrying a leash for each dog, picking up after the dogs, and following any leashing and prohibited rules.”
The Council is required by law to update its dog bylaw and policy at least every 10 years, meaning it is likely the rules in place now will remain until about 2035.
Information for dog owners is available on the Christchurch City Council website, including an interactive map of dog parks.