ACC takes thousands of dog-bite claims every year, and summer brings dogs, people and wildlife onto the same beaches. Here’s what owners need to know.
Summer is when dogs and people share the most space. Beaches fill up, cafés put tables out on the footpath, and nesting birds and seals use the same coast.
Most of the time it works. When it doesn’t, the cost lands on the owner.
ACC accepted 14,792 new dog-bite claims in 2025. Most were cuts and puncture wounds, but 418 injuries were to the face and 13 were amputations. Payments on dog-bite claims active that year came to about $10.4 million.
In Canterbury there were 1,661 new claims in 2025, and another 805 in the first half of this year.
What the law says
Under the Dog Control Act, owners must keep their dog under control. Failing to do so carries a $200 infringement fee. Owners must also carry a leash in public, whether or not the dog is on it, or face a $100 fine. Breaching a council bylaw costs $300.
The penalties climb quickly when someone gets hurt. If a dog attacks a person, stock, a pet or protected wildlife, the owner faces a fine of up to $3,000, and the court must order the dog destroyed unless the circumstances were exceptional.
An attack that seriously injures a person or kills protected wildlife can bring up to three years in prison, a fine of up to $20,000, or both.
Owners are also liable for the damage their dog causes. The victim doesn’t have to show the dog had a history of causing harm. That matters for businesses that bring dogs to work or welcome them at outdoor tables.
The Act is under review. Local Government Minister Simon Watts said in July that he aims to have recommendations by the end of this year and new law in place next year, with “all options on the table”, including stronger penalties.
Christchurch beach rules
Christchurch’s summer beach restrictions run from 1 November to 31 March, between 9am and 7pm.
Dogs aren’t allowed within 100m either side of the surf lifesaving club pavilions at Spencer Park, Waimairi, North Beach and South New Brighton, or within 50m either side at Taylors Mistake.
At New Brighton the zone runs from 100m north of the club to 100m south of the pier. At Sumner it runs from 100m north of the club to Cave Rock. Dogs are banned from New Brighton Pier at all times.
On Banks Peninsula, many bays are off-limits to dogs during those hours, including Cass Bay, Corsair Bay, Diamond Harbour, Purau, Akaroa, Okains Bay and Le Bons Bay. Flea Bay, Gough’s Bay and Hickory Bay are closed to dogs all year to protect wildlife.
Dogs can pass through a restricted area on a short leash and under good control.
Elsewhere in the city, dogs must be leashed on roads, footpaths, shared paths, car parks and paths in parks and other green spaces. They must also stay at least a metre from playgrounds.
Waimakariri bans dogs inside the surf patrol flags and within 50m of them, and in the Ashley River/Rakahuri estuary and its wetlands.
On conservation land, dogs are only allowed in approved dog access areas or with a DOC permit. Keep dogs on a lead and at least 20m from seals.
Heat kills
A car heats up faster than most people expect. The SPCA says that on a 21°C day, a car parked in the shade with the windows down passes 31°C within 10 minutes.
Leaving a dog in a vehicle where it seeks shade and shows signs of heat stress, such as excessive panting, drooling or hyperventilation, can mean a $300 infringement. The dog’s owner, the vehicle’s owner and the person in charge can each be held responsible.
Christchurch’s dog policy says council officers, with Police or SPCA Canterbury, “will act swiftly to release dogs that are clearly in distress”.
Hot paths and sand burn paws, so walk early or late. Check the LAWA website for toxic algae warnings before letting a dog swim in a river, as algae mats can kill a dog quickly.
Fireworks
Fireworks go on sale from 2 to 5 November. The SPCA advises keeping dogs inside, walking them before dusk and making sure their microchip details are up to date.
A frightened dog can bolt, and fireworks night is one of the busiest times of year for lost dogs.
