New Zealand’s Greyhound Racing Ban Triggers Mass Relocation of Dogs and Trainers to Australia
A new chapter has begun in New Zealand’s animal welfare journey as the country’s nationwide ban on greyhound racing officially takes effect, bringing an end to a sport that has operated for decades. However, while racing has ceased in New Zealand, many within the industry are seeking a fresh start across the Tasman Sea, with dozens of greyhounds and their trainers relocating to Australia where the sport remains largely legal.
At least two chartered flights carrying as many as 150 racing greyhounds are expected to arrive in Australia’s eastern states as part of a coordinated effort to transfer dogs and industry participants. Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ) confirmed that several trainers have chosen to relocate in order to continue their racing careers, with the organization providing financial support for the charter flights while owners and trainers cover other relocation expenses.
The decision follows New Zealand’s landmark legislation banning greyhound racing, a move first announced in December 2024 before becoming law in April 2025. The government introduced the ban after years of scrutiny and three independent reviews conducted in 2013, 2017, and 2021, all of which highlighted persistent concerns over the welfare of racing greyhounds. Officials concluded that despite improvements in safety measures, injury and death rates among racing dogs remained unacceptably high.
According to New Zealand authorities, approximately 1,300 to 1,400 greyhounds will now retire from racing and be rehomed over the next few years. The government has established a dedicated Greyhound Transition Agency to oversee the welfare and placement of the retired dogs, ensuring they are successfully integrated into family homes.
New Zealand Racing Minister Winston Peters described the relocation of some dogs to Australia as “the last gasp actions of a dying industry,” arguing that greyhound racing had lost public confidence because of ongoing animal welfare concerns. Government officials insist that only a relatively small number of dogs are being exported and that the overwhelming majority will remain in New Zealand for adoption.
Despite the government’s position, Greyhound Racing New Zealand continues to defend the industry’s welfare standards. Chief Executive Edward Rennell said between six and ten trainers have expressed interest in moving to Australia and that final relocation plans are expected to be completed within weeks.
Rennell maintained that New Zealand’s greyhound welfare system is among the strongest in the country’s racing industry, rejecting claims that the sport failed to adequately protect the animals. He acknowledged, however, that the exported greyhounds may struggle to compete at Australia’s highest racing levels because breeding programs in New Zealand have largely stopped since the ban was first announced nearly two years ago.
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Australian authorities have confirmed that the imported dogs will be treated as companion animals rather than commercial livestock and will undergo strict biosecurity screening, including checks for diseases such as rabies before entering the country.
The migration comes as Australia’s greyhound racing industry continues to generate significant economic activity. Combined industries in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria were valued at nearly A$2 billion during the 2022–23 financial year, vastly exceeding New Zealand’s industry value of approximately NZ$147 million.
Animal welfare groups, however, have voiced concern over the continued relocation of racing dogs. Critics argue that Australia already faces challenges rehoming thousands of retired greyhounds and fear that accepting more racing animals could place additional pressure on existing adoption programs.
The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds revealed that thousands of retired racing dogs in Australia are still waiting for permanent homes, while many have already been sent overseas to countries such as the United States and Canada under international adoption initiatives.
Australian Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi also questioned the cross-border transfers, warning that legal loopholes continue to allow racing dogs to move between countries despite growing international efforts to phase out the sport.
The end of greyhound racing in New Zealand reflects a broader global shift toward stronger animal welfare protections. Commercial greyhound racing has already been banned in Scotland and Wales, while most states in the United States have outlawed the sport, leaving only two operational tracks in West Virginia. Within Australia, both the Australian Capital Territory has prohibited greyhound racing, and Tasmania has announced plans to phase out the industry.
As New Zealand closes the curtain on greyhound racing, attention now turns to the successful rehoming of more than a thousand retired dogs and the future of those relocating to Australia. The development marks one of the most significant reforms in the country’s racing history and signals the continuing global debate over balancing sporting traditions with modern animal welfare expectations.
