Signage at Oriental Bay Beach. Photo: Krystal Gibbens / RNZ
Wellingtonians say some dog owners are not paying much attention to summer beach bans.
On many beaches in Wellington, Porirua and Hutt City, dogs are banned between 10am and 7pm during the summer months.
Dean Bentley from Hutt City Council said while most dog owners did obey the rules, they had had some complaints - especially about dogs off their leash.
He said it was important for other beach users to also be able to enjoy it "without having dogs on the beach that may come running up to them or [that] may be intimidating to some people".
"We will generally respond to complaints, but we also do patrols from time to time."
Caught on camera, a dog at Plimmerton Beach during summer ban. Photo: Krystal Gibbens / RNZ
He said they usually took a graduated approach to enforcement, starting with a warning, but repeated offenders could be fined.
Wellington City Council team leader for public health operations Kate Baoumgren said they also did some patrols, and the rules were clearly signposted.
"I'd hope to think that people could look up on our website and have a look before they went out to the area so that they'd know whether the dogs can be on the beach, off lead, or on lead or not at all."
Paremata Beach. Photo: Krystal Gibbens / RNZ
RNZ went to some of the city's beaches to see what Wellingtonians had to say. Most were not aware dogs were banned at certain times, and many also reported regularly seeing dogs on the beach.
Porirua City Council said it only had three complaints about dogs on beaches this summer during the ban hours. But during a visit to Porirua's beaches RNZ saw more than three pups cooling their paws in the surf.
Dog at Oriental Bay Beach in Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Ashleigh McCaull
The beach where RNZ observed the best compliance was Oriental Bay.
One beachgoer told RNZ there was no space for dogs to run around when there were lots of people, and she looked for other places when walking the dog.
Another liked dogs but did not like owners who failed to keep them under control, while a third wanted to see an enforced ban all year-round.
Bentley said dog owners needed to be responsible, urging them to make the most of designated dog parks around the city.
He said dogs also needed to remain under the owners' control in public spaces, and owners should be mindful that other people might be scared of their dog.
ACC recorded eight dog-related claims on Wellington's beaches in 2023.
Other beaches are also home to native birds and nesting areas that need protecting.
Auckland Council successfully trailed full-time enforcement on its West Coast beaches last summer and continued it this year.
The council said the officer had engaged with hundreds of beachgoers over the past eight weeks, with 39 formal warnings and four infringement notices issued.
"We operate on a graduated enforcement model, we will usually issue a formal warning first before issuing an infringement. If the offence is more serious, or if it is a repeat offence, then an infringement notice will be issued instead."
Porirua, Hutt and Wellington City councils did not feel full time enforcement was needed, though Wellington was open to the idea.
Porirua beaches were patrolled weekly and the council said it did not have any issues with dogs there.
Hutt City suggested higher winds at Petone beach meant there were fewer people there than at Auckland beaches.
