Damning report into NZ greyhound racing industry safety

Te Whanganui a Tara – A parliamentary s elect committee has released a damning report outlining doubts as to whether the industry retains the social licence required to operate.

The report presented to the House of Representatives highlights serious concerns about the industry and urges government to consider the comments of the committee when deciding whether greyhound racing has a future in Aotearoa.

After yet another dire season on greyhound racetracks with 40 percent of greyhounds receiving injuries, SAFE, Aotearoa’s leading animal rights organisation, says it was encouraged to hear the committee’s findings.

The greyhound racing industry’s bleak animal welfare record is a blight on New Zealand’s reputation when it comes to animal welfare standards. Issues have been identified across the board, both on the racetrack and in kennels.

The industry has shown time and time again it cannot be trusted to protect dogs. The social licence has been eroded beyond repair, SAFE says

The select committee report says the industry’s responses to problems have been slow and does not show the welfare of dogs is the industry’s main consideration.

The industry has focused more on reducing greyhound deaths than on reducing injuries and improving the quality of care, the report says.

Businesses, politicians, animal welfare organisations, the public and now the petitions select committee have all made their position on greyhound racing clear. It’s time for the industry to go, SAFE says. 

It says it is creating a future that ensures the rights of animals are respected. They work to empower society to make kinder choices for animals and the planet.

Following a review of the greyhound racing industry, Grant Robertson, the previous r minister, said there are three fundamental issues that still need to be addressed; data recording, transparency of all activities, and animal welfare generally.

He tasked the Racing Integrity Board to identify a specific set of indicators over each of these areas that will be used to assess the industry’s progress, reporting back to the minister before the end of 2022.

In August 2021, Labour MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan accepted The Greyhound Protection League of New Zealand’s 37,700 signature-strong petition calling for a ban on greyhound racing in New Zealand. SAFE had been supporting the petition since November 2020.

Greyhound racing is legal in only seven countries. A ban in the Australian Capital Territory came into force in April 2018, followed by a ban in Florida, USA, in November 2018. Since Florida is home to 11 of the USA’s 17 active dog tracks, this is a signal that greyhound racing will soon become a thing of the past in the United States.