Animals

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Animals

Horse Riding in Public Areas | Impounding Stock

This section is about keeping animals and animal control.

We provide a range of services for situations involving animals in New Plymouth District. We are also responsible for enforcing regulations for animal owners. Some of these services and regulations are outlined below. Please see the bylaws section or dogs section for more specific information.

Horse riding in public areas
Horse riding in public areas

Horses may be ridden in most areas, but riders need to be able to fully control their horses around people. In urban areas, horse owners are required to remove horse manure. Horses are not allowed to be ridden in the following areas:

Along any footpath, grass berm or other grassed area in an urban area unless it is a designated horse riding area.
Ngamotu Beach (includes the reserve, beach and playground area) at all times.
East End Beach to Fitzroy Beach (including the foreshore and beach area located between the Te Henui river mouth to the west and Waiwhakaiho river mouth to the east) from 9am to 6pm daily during daylight savings.
Oakura Beach (including the foreshore and beach area located between the Oakura Motor Camp to the west and the Oakura river mouth to the east) from 9am to 6pm daily during daylight savings.

What can you do about stray animals?

Check they don’t belong to a neighbour, then contact us. You can also contact us if you see stray animals in a public place.

What can you do if an animal is causing a nuisance?

If the animal belongs to a neighbour, discuss any concerns with them directly. If the problem cannot be resolved then contact us.

The types of problems that are considered an annoyance or nuisance include excessive noise, strong smells, dust or an accumulation of animal dung that attracts pests and/or insects.

Keeping animals in urban areas

Beekeeping - Bees can only be kept in urban areas if, in the opinion of a Council officer, keeping bees won’t or is not likely to become a nuisance or annoyance to any person or be dangerous to people’s health.

Cats - A maximum of four cats or kittens over the age of six months can be kept per house in an urban area. Council consent is required to keep more than four.

Cattle - Cattle may be kept in urban areas provided they are kept no less than 2m from a boundary of any adjoining premises and are not, in the opinion of a Council officer, causing an annoyance.

Pigs - Pigs may be kept in urban areas providing they don't cause a nuisance, aren't a health risk or offensive. Pigstys must comply with the Building Act 2004 and any discharge from a piggery must comply with the RMA and requirements from Taranaki Regional Council.

Poultry - A maximum of 12 poultry are permitted to be kept in urban areas. The poultry must be adequately housed within a secure run and should not cause a nuisance to neighbours. No poultry house or run should be located within 10m of a dwelling or 2m from a boundary. Roosters may not be kept in an urban area if they cause a nuisance.