This Government bill amends the Racing Industry Act 2020 to close commercial greyhound racing in New Zealand from 1 August 2026. It has since passed into law as the Racing Industry (Closure of Greyhound Racing Industry) Amendment Act 2026.
This bill amends the Racing Industry Act 2020 to bring greyhound racing in New Zealand to an end. It provides for the wind-down and closure of the commercial greyhound racing industry, prohibiting the racing of greyhounds for betting purposes, and sets up arrangements for the transition — including protecting and rehoming the thousands of racing dogs so they are not needlessly euthanised, and managing the industry's assets and the people affected. It affects greyhound owners, trainers, racing clubs, betting operators, and the dogs themselves. The stated driver is persistent animal-welfare concern.
A Government bill, prompted by long-running concern about injury and death rates among racing greyhounds highlighted in successive independent reviews. Supporters — including animal-welfare bodies such as the SPCA — argue the harm to dogs is unacceptable and cannot be adequately fixed. Opponents, chiefly people in the industry, argue dog welfare had been improving, that closure destroys livelihoods and a community, and that the decision is heavy-handed.
See the Parliament.nz ↗ site for the full bill.