Dog owners urged to switch to email registration reminders
Waimakariri District Council media release: 11th May 2026
Dog registration renewal time is just around the corner, and the Council is encouraging dog owners who still receive renewal notices by post to switch to email instead.
Council’s Environmental Services Manager Billy Charlton says relying on postal notices can sometimes lead to avoidable penalties.
“We’re finding that people don’t always remember to update their address when they move, which means they can miss the dog registration deadline and end up paying a late fee on top of their registration costs,” Billy says.
“Emailed registration forms remove that risk altogether and ensures owners receive their notice earlier.”
Dog owners can update their contact details online, as well as opting in to email reminders, or notifying the Council if their dog has passed away.
Dogs over three months old must be registered
All dogs over three months old are required to be registered and must also be microchipped (except for farm dogs used for stock control).
If your dog has been previously registered with Waimakariri District Council, you should receive a renewal form by mid-June. When you receive your renewal form, you can either pay online, through internet banking or at one of our service centres in Rangiora, Kaiapoi or Oxford.
Make sure you pay your registration by 31st July to avoid a penalty.
If your multi-year dog tag needs to be replaced, you can let us know by either visiting one of our service centres or by emailing office[at]wmk.govt.nz for a replacement.