Lead

Chartered flights will ferry up to 150 greyhounds to Australia as trainers pivot from a racing ban coming into effect in New Zealand. The ban, first announced in December 2024 and legislated in April, took effect on Saturday after years of animal welfare concerns.

Greyhound trainers in New Zealand are responding to the ban by moving their dogs to Australia with plans to continue in the sport, governing body Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ) told the BBC. At least two chartered flights are set to fly to Australia's eastern states, according to the broadcaster.

Coverage Comparison

The ABC and the BBC both reported on the imminent relocation of greyhounds from New Zealand to Australia. The ABC's coverage centered on the impact of the ban on trainers and the industry, noting that ten greyhounds were euthanised during New Zealand's final racing season, including one days before the ban began. The BBC's reporting highlighted the controversy surrounding the relocation, including criticism from New Zealand's Racing Minister Winston Peters, who called the plans "the last gasp actions of a dying industry".

Both outlets noted that greyhound racing remains legal in most Australian jurisdictions, banned only in the Australian Capital Territory. The ABC added that plans for an industry phase-out in Tasmania have stalled after the government pulled a bill from the upper house in April when it appeared not to have enough support to pass.

Key Claims

The relocation involves up to 150 greyhounds, according to both the ABC and the BBC. Approximately 1,400 greyhounds will retire in New Zealand under the ban and require rehoming, the BBC reported. The ABC reported that ten greyhounds were euthanised during New Zealand's final racing season.

Australia's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry told a Senate inquiry in June that greyhounds arriving from New Zealand are classed as "companion animals" and will undergo screening for diseases such as rabies. "Australia's import requirements for dogs are based on biosecurity risk, not the intended use of the animal," the department said, as quoted by the BBC.

The Greyhound Transition Agency (GTA), the body overseeing the industry's closure in New Zealand, told the BBC that they understand arrangements are being made to relocate some dogs to Australia for racing purposes. GTA head Heather Simpson told Radio New Zealand that she was aware GRNZ had organised charter flights for about 150 dogs to go to Australia to continue racing. "There is nothing in the legislation that stops trainers choosing to export their dogs to Australia; some of these dogs actually will be partly owned by Australians," she said.

Perspectives

New Zealand Government

The office of New Zealand's Racing Minister Winston Peters called the relocation plans "the last gasp actions of a dying industry". Peters said the dog racing industry had "lost its social licence" after multiple reviews concluded that dog and injury death rates "remain unacceptably high" — a conclusion that GRNZ disputed. In a statement, a spokesperson for Peters said: "We understand a small number of dogs are being exported to Australia, but the vast majority (1,300 to 1,400) will be rehomed over the next couple of years. This is a one-off final act rather than an ongoing issue."

Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ)

GRNZ, the governing body for the sport in New Zealand, disputed the conclusion that injury and death rates were unacceptably high. Chief executive Edward Rennell told the BBC that between six and ten trainers have expressed interest in relocating to Australia, with most New Zealand citizens not requiring a special visa to live in Australia. Details would be finalised "over the next two weeks", he said, adding that "the details aren't locked in" but that his organisation would cover the costs.

Greyhound Transition Agency (GTA)

GTA head Heather Simpson acknowledged the planned exports while noting there is nothing in the legislation preventing them. Her agency is responsible for overseeing the industry's closure and the rehoming of the dogs that remain in New Zealand.

Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi

Senator Faruqi told a Senate committee hearing in April that word of the chartered flights first emerged through a leaked message from a private greyhound racing group. She described the move as "a deliberate attempt to avoid" New Zealand's transition agency. "If they survive, they will become the responsibility of Australians to rehome," she said. "And you would know we're already in a rehoming crisis."