Animals

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Animals

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The council provides a range of services for situations involving animals in New Plymouth District. The council is also responsible for enforcing regulations for animal owners. Some of these services and regulations are outlined below. Please see the New Plymouth District Council Consolidated Bylaws 2000 for more detailed information.

Information about dogs is listed under Dogs in the A-Z of Council Services section. 

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?

What can you do about stray animals?

Check they don’t belong to a neighbour, then contact the council. You can also contact the council 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, then if the problem cannot be resolved contact the council. 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 - The maximum number of cats or kittens over the age of six months that can
be kept in an urban area is four per house. 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 not be kept in urban areas.

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.

Related links

• Bylaws
• Dogs

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