New Zealand to Ban Greyhound Racing
New Zealand's government announced plans to ban greyhound racing by 2026, citing "persistently high" injury rates and animal welfare concerns despite industry reforms.
Facts
- New Zealand's government announced plans to ban greyhound racing by 2026, citing "persistently high" injury rates and animal welfare concerns despite industry reforms.[1][2]
- The government will also introduce legislation to prevent the unnecessary killing of racing dogs, with approximately 2.9K greyhounds needing to be rehomed during the 20-month transition period.[3][4]
- Commercial greyhound racing currently operates in several other countries, including Australia, Ireland, the UK, and the US, where only two tracks remain. In New Zealand, the industry employs over 1K people full-time, representing 8.5% of New Zealand's $760M racing industry.[1][4]
- In the 2023-24 season, nine dogs were reportedly euthanized due to racing injuries, while 224 dogs suffered serious injuries and 672 experienced "minor to medium" injuries.[5]
- A ministerial advisory committee, alongside a consultant and veterinarian, will oversee the transition and work with animal welfare organizations to establish rehoming programs.[6]
- The decision received cross-party support from Labour and the Greens, while recent surveys from animal welfare organization SPCA showed 75% of New Zealanders would vote to ban commercial greyhound racing.[5]
Sources: [1]BBC News, [2]The Guardian, [3]ABC, [4]Associated Press, [5]NZ Herald and [6]The Post.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by SPCA. The persistent high injury rates and deaths demonstrate that greyhound racing is inherently dangerous and cruel, marking this ban as a monumental victory for animal rights that reflects growing public recognition that animal exploitation for entertainment is unacceptable.
- Narrative B, as provided by RNZ and The New Zealand Herald. The greyhound racing industry has made significant strides in animal welfare reforms, with injury rates below Australian averages and lower euthanasia rates than horse racing. This ban is an unnecessary devastation to families and businesses that have dedicated their lives to the sport.
