The Government has released new guidelines for how councils manage dogs, as part of a wider review of the country's dog control laws.

Local Government Minister Simon Watts ordered the review in March. The new guidelines replace older ones from 2009 and 2015, and are meant to help councils use the powers they already have under the law, encourage responsible dog ownership, and deal with problems when they come up, RNZ reports.

One key change is that councils will now report dog control data in a standardised way, so information can be compared across the country. That reporting is not compulsory yet. Watts has said the Government is considering whether to make it mandatory as part of the review.

Watts wants to have recommendations for new laws by the end of this year and an updated Dog Control Act in place next year. Options include tougher penalties for irresponsible dog owners and more powers for council officers to deal with threatening animals.

ACC recorded more than 14,000 claims related to dog bites and attacks in 2025, according to RNZ.

The current Dog Control Act dates back to 1996. The Department of Internal Affairs released Cabinet material about changes to the part of the Act that lists menacing dog breeds on 7 February 2025, DIA records show. Which breeds are on that list has been a recurring source of disagreement between central and local government.

Auckland Council called for an overhaul of the Act, saying current laws do not give councils enough power to stop roaming dogs and protect the public, LawNews reported in October 2025. That call came before the Government ordered its review.

The Government is taking a two-step approach. The first step is the new guidelines, which take effect now and give councils clearer direction on using powers already in the 1996 law. The bigger changes, like tougher penalties or new enforcement powers, will come later through new legislation.

The standardised reporting is the change most likely to matter long-term. Until now, councils have collected dog control data in different ways, making it hard to get a national picture. If reporting becomes mandatory, government agencies would for the first time have data they can compare across all councils, which would help them make better decisions about dog control policy.

For councils, the practical effect right now is limited. The guidelines explain how to use existing powers but do not give them new ones. Auckland Council's concern that it lacks the tools to deal with roaming dogs will not be fixed by guidelines alone; it needs a law change. With recommendations due by year's end and new legislation next year, any real fix is unlikely before 2027.

The 14,000-plus ACC claims give the Government a clear reason to act. Dog attacks are a visible harm, and that number gives ministers something concrete to point to. Whether it leads to real change will depend on what the review recommends and what the Government agrees to, but the data and the pressure to act are now both there.