New Zealand greyhound racing ban prompts dog exports to Australia

A ban on greyhound racing in New Zealand takes effect on Saturday, ending the sport that officials said had lost its social licence. About 1,400 greyhounds are slated to be retired, while a smaller number – up to 150 dogs on two chartered flights – will be moved to Australia so trainers can continue racing there.

Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ) says six to ten trainers are interested in relocating, and the organisation will cover the cost of the flights. Australian authorities will treat the arriving dogs as companion animals and will screen them for diseases such as rabies. Racing Minister Winston Peters described the export plans as “the last gasp actions of a dying industry,” and GRNZ chief executive Edward Rennell noted that breeding in New Zealand has largely paused since the ban was announced in December 2024 and legislated in April 2025.