Animal Management
Kaikoura District Council’s Regulatory Enforcement Officers (animal control), primarily deal with complaints about dog nuisances and attacks, general public safety, and ensuring that all dogs are correctly registered. Our Dog Control Officers are called out to deal with stray or loose dogs on a regular basis. The officer on duty changes from week to week
Wandering stock (e.g. sheep, cattle, horses)
The following services are available to ensure traffic safety, minimise damage to public land and help animal owners.
- For stock wandering on the State Highway please call Waka Kotahi (NZTA) on 0800 44 44 49.
- For stock wandering elsewhere within the District (including privately-owned land) call our Regulatory Enforcement Officers on 027 668 8780.
Stock wandering onto public land or roads may be impounded. If impounded, the animal owner will be liable for impounding fees, sustenance costs and any cartage. The Impounding Act 1955 is the legislation covering impounded stock.
Stock owners are liable for any damage caused by their stock wandering onto the road if the damage is caused by the owner's negligence.
It is the responsibility of animal owners to make sure their animals do not create a nuisance to neighbours.
Farm animals on town sections
It is permitted to keep farm animals on town sections - provided the animals are well cared for and are not causing a nuisance to neighbours. Nuisance caused by animals is controlled by the Council using the Health Act 1956.
The sort of nuisance that raises concern includes:
- animals wandering onto a neighbour's property - adequate fencing is required
- offensive smells, flies or vermin caused by inappropriate management of the animal
- loud noise, such as a rooster crowing
Roosters
The Council discourages the keeping of roosters in the urban area. Roosters’ crowing is frequently a cause of complaints, particularly during early morning hours.
Unwelcome visitors
Bees and wasps
If you have a problem with bees or wasps on your property, you will need to arrange for their removal. The Council doesn't deal with bees or wasps on private land.
If they are nesting on public property we will remove them. We can only do this once a nest has been formed - we can't do anything while bees are swarming.
Rats and mice
The Council can offer you advice on how to control rats and mice, but it is the property owner's responsibility to get rid of them, or bring in a pest control company to do the job.
Mosquitoes
'Mossies' like to turn up uninvited, and can take the fun out of an evening barbecue. Mosquitoes breed in still or slow-moving water - take steps to eliminate the chances of mosquitoes taking up residence in your backyard.
- Inspect areas for stagnant water
- Empty buckets and containers
- Clear guttering
- Treat swimming pools
- Keep fish in ponds
- Remove old containers
- Drill holes in tyre swings
- Overturn boats
- Discuss the problem with neighbours so they can also remove all stagnant water
If you have mosquitoes on your property, when outside and especially in the early evening, wear protective clothing such as long pants and long sleeves, and use mosquito repellent.
