Greyhound racing in New Zealand has closed as the focus shifts to rehoming 1400 dogs as Tasmania pushes for a 2029 closure to its industry.
NZ Racing Minister Winston Peters says the focus is now on rehoming the dogs after the racing industry shut down on July 31.
The ban was passed by NZ Parliament in April with the support of all parties.
Mr Peters says a Greyhound Transition Agency (GTA) is now co-ordinating the task of finding new homes for the dogs.
“The GTA is has a clear plan – the Greyhound Rehoming Project – is fully funded and is working with established expert organisations who have been rehoming racing industry dogs for years,” he says.
“The rehoming plan ensures owners / trainers of former racing dogs have financial support to care for animals until they are rehomed,” Mr Peters says.
He confirmed that no public money is being used with the NZ$60 (A$50.2) million project to be funded by the TAB.
“The last week of racing was sadly marked by yet another death of a greyhound which was put down after breaking her leg in a race at Addington (Christchurch) on Wednesday (last week),” Peters says.
“It was a tragic reminder of the toll of deaths and serious injury for an industry which had run out of social licence to operate.”
Media reports say about 150 dogs are being sent to Australia to continue racing: click here for more
GREYHOUND NZ’S PARTING SHOT
Greyhound Racing NZ chairman Sean Hannan hit out at the governments and TAB’s role in keeping racing going in his last annual report.
“The TAB benefited from its reliability, frequency and appeal, just as the industry benefited from the platform and revenue wagering provided,” he says.
“If the moral case is that New Zealanders should not wager on greyhound racing then continue to import, promote and profit from Australian greyhound racing exposes a fundamental contradiction.
“Greyhound racing itself was not rejected. Only New Zealand’s participation in it was. “
Hannan also accused successive racing ministers of “failing” the industry.
“Some demanded reform then refused to recognise it. Some spoke of animal welfare while giving too little regard to the welfare of the people whose lives they dismantled,” he says.
“They accepted greyhound racing’s economic value when it benefited the wider racing system then abandoned it when closure became politically convenient.”
TASMANIA PUSHES AHEAD WITH VOLUNTARY EXITS
Tasmania is also forging ahead with its plans to close the industry by 2029.
Racing Minister Roger Jaensch says 13 racers have shown interest in a voluntary exit scheme.
“This will provide financial assistance and practical support to those wishing to leave the industry by December 31, 2026,” he says.
“The government remains committed to the phase-out of greyhound racing by June 30, 2029.”
He says government want to see a “responsible and orderly” transition with a focus on both participant and animal welfare.
MP for Rosevears (Liberal) Jo Palmer, says the phase-out must be handled in a careful and measured way.
“We continued to see injuries and on-track deaths of greyhounds in Tasmania,” she says.
“The end of racing in New Zealand reaffirms that the industry no longer meets community expectations across the world.”
Tasmanian Racing Integrity Commissioner Sean Carroll says the interest shown in the exit scheme shows it is being actively considered.
He is preparing an interim report about how the scheme will work for those wanting to leave this year.
Expressions of interest remain open; contact the Office of the Tasmanian Racing Integrity Commissioner at greyhoundtransition@racingintegrity.tas.gov.au or by calling 0408 533 463.
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