This Government bill amends the Racing Industry Act 2020 to prohibit destroying greyhounds registered with Greyhound Racing New Zealand, unless done by a vet for a reason in GRNZ's euthanasia policy or by someone acting under other legislation. It was enacted as the Racing Industry (Unlawful Destruction of Specified Greyhounds) Amendment Act 2024.
Parliament advanced this bill under urgency (committee of whole house, first reading, second reading, third reading) — moving it through faster than usual, with less time than normal for public submissions.
This government bill amends the Racing Industry Act 2020 to make it unlawful to destroy (kill) greyhounds registered with Greyhound Racing New Zealand, except where a veterinarian does so under the association's approved euthanasia policy or as another law allows. It is a protective measure tied to the government's plan to end greyhound racing: by restricting killing, it aims to ensure registered dogs are kept and rehomed during the industry's wind-down rather than culled.
It sits alongside the wider policy to close the greyhound racing industry, addressing animal-welfare concerns about the fate of large numbers of dogs. Supporters, including animal-welfare advocates, argue a legal ban on destruction is essential to guarantee the dogs' safety and to force rehoming. Critics raise practical concerns about the cost and capacity of caring for and rehoming thousands of greyhounds, and about how workable the restriction is for owners and trainers.
See the Parliament.nz ↗ site for the full bill.