Closure of greyhound racing industry
Law & Regulation
Enacted – Pending Effect
April 1, 2026
Summary
On 1 April 2026, the New Zealand Parliament passed the Racing Industry (Closure of Greyhound Racing Industry) Amendment Act, removing the legal basis for commercial greyhound racing in New Zealand from 1 August 2026, with the last permitted races scheduled for 31 July 2026. A companion 2024 instrument restricts the killing of racing-registered greyhounds during the wind-down to veterinary euthanasia for specified reasons. A Transition Agency has been established to coordinate the industry’s closure and the rehoming of racing greyhounds into non-commercial homes.
Background Context
Commercial greyhound racing in New Zealand operated under the Racing Industry Act 2020 with NZGR as the recognised code body. Official reviews in 2013, 2017, and 2021 identified persistent animal safety and data transparency issues. SPCA New Zealand worked with the industry for several years before concluding that fundamental reform was insufficient and publicly campaigning for a ban.
On 9 December 2024, Cabinet made an in-principle decision to close the industry by 31 July 2026 and commissioned the Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) to advise on closure implementation. The MAC delivered its interim report on 29 May 2025 recommending a Transition Agency structure. On 19 August 2025, Cabinet confirmed its decision to proceed with legislation and accepted MAC recommendations; the Racing Industry (Closure of Greyhound Racing Industry) Amendment Bill was introduced shortly afterward.
The New Zealand Greyhound Racing Association Inc initiated judicial review proceedings (NZHC 2665) challenging the legality of the original Cabinet decision.
System Impact
System Scale Direction
System Contraction
Type
Alters Legal Basis
Significance
High
Commercial greyhound racing continues to operate during the transition period to 31 July 2026. The companion instrument restricting destruction of racing-registered greyhounds limits depopulation of racing dogs over the 20-month transition period. The Transition Agency, funded by TAB NZ, coordinates the orderly closure of NZGR and racing clubs and the transition of racing greyhounds into rehoming pathways.
The SPCA publicly confirmed support for the legislation and participated in Parliamentary submissions. The New Zealand Greyhound Racing Association Inc’s judicial review proceedings (NZHC 2665) remain before the courts; no order suspending the legislative process or the enacted bill has been documented in available sources as of April 2026.
Anticipated Effects
If implemented as enacted, all commercial greyhound racing events in New Zealand will cease after 31 July 2026, with no further commercial meetings permitted under the Racing Industry Act framework from 1 August 2026; the number of dogs used in commercial greyhound racing within the statutory framework will reduce to zero from that date.
If the Transition Agency operates as established, approximately 2,900 racing greyhounds will be redirected into rehoming pathways via animal welfare and rehoming organisations over the wind-down period; the proportion successfully rehomed versus dogs with other outcomes is not established in available sources.
If judicial review proceedings (NZHC 2665) challenging the original Cabinet decision produce a court order affecting the closure timeline or the legislation’s operation, the operative date of 1 August 2026 could be affected; no such order has been documented in available sources as of April 2026.
Significance Rationale
The legislation affects the entirety of New Zealand’s commercial greyhound racing system — all licensed tracks, all racing under the NZGR framework, and approximately 2,900 racing greyhounds within the statutory commercial system — eliminating the entire statutory commercial greyhound racing system as a legally authorised activity nationwide, rather than modifying a subset of its practices. This constitutes complete elimination of a defined animal system within its jurisdiction, assessed relative to the commercial greyhound racing system directly affected, not relative to adjacent systems such as the wider greyhound breeding sector.
Key Actors
The Parliament of New Zealand passed the Racing Industry (Closure of Greyhound Racing Industry) Amendment Bill on 1 April 2026; the legislation was sponsored by Minister for Racing Rt Hon Winston Peters. The Department of Internal Affairs administered the policy process and Racing Industry Act framework. Cabinet confirmed the closure decision and legislation in August 2025. The Primary Production Committee recommended passage in March 2026.
Greyhound Racing New Zealand (NZGR) is the directly affected code body subject to wind-down. The Transition Agency funded by TAB NZ coordinates the operational closure. SPCA New Zealand provided submissions to Parliament and publicly supported the legislation. The New Zealand Greyhound Racing Association Inc initiated judicial review proceedings (NZHC 2665) challenging the originating Cabinet decision.
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