Greyhound Racing in New Zealand | GREY2K USA Worldwide

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Greyhound racing in New Zealand is governed by the New Zealand Racing Board, a government body formed in 2003 under the Racing Act. The Racing Board reports to the New Zealand Minister of Racing. The New Zealand Greyhound Racing Association, also known as Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ), is the organization that represents the greyhound racing industry and organizes its activities. GRNZ is one of the three racing codes that the New Zealand Racing Board oversees, in addition to the harness and thoroughbred racing organizations.



Caged greyhounds in New Zealand

Caged greyhounds in New Zealand. (GREY2K USA Worldwide)

Greyhounds were killed and buried in this mass grave in New Zealand

Greyhounds were killed and buried in this mass grave in New Zealand. (Lynn Charlton)

Protesters against greyhound racing in New-Zealand

Protesters against greyhound racing in New-Zealand. (Newshub)

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GRNZ currently consists of 10 greyhound racing member clubs. In the 2018-2019 racing season, over 5,800 races were run by the clubs in New Zealand.1 The greyhounds racing in New Zealand are both bred in-country and imported from Australia. There are ten breeding kennels in New Zealand listed on greyhound-data.com, an online database maintained by dog racing gamblers.2 Between 2016 and 2021, 1,141 greyhounds were imported from Australia.3

GRNZ has Rules of Racing that include regulations for its member clubs, registration and breeding requirements and greyhound drug testing procedures.4

The 2017 “Report to New Zealand Racing Board on Welfare Issues Affecting Greyhound Racing in New Zealand” found that 1,447 greyhounds were destroyed between 2013-2014 and 2016-2017.5 Data provided by Greyhound Racing New Zealand confirm an additional 1,124 greyhounds were destroyed from 2017-2018 thru 2020-2021.6

Wagering on greyhound races is legal in New Zealand. Bets can be placed at the track and through off-site betting outlets. In 2018, $421 million was wagered on New Zealand races.7

New Zealand races are currently broadcast to Australia and GRNZ has expressed plans to expand its simulcast market to include other countries, and of particular focus is the Asian market.8

In May 2022, it was revealed that eight greyhounds linked to New Zealand's largest greyhound breeder John Mclnerney were offloaded to an adoption kennel with severe signs of neglect and mistreatment, including examples of blindness, open wounds, bite marks, old injuries left untreated, lacerations, and severe worms. 9 The next day, Newshub revealed up to 300 improvement notices were sent to "almost all" kennels in New Zealand, with failures including unvaccinated dogs, unapproved medications administered, incomplete treatment records, and an increase in dental issues. 10



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  1. “2019 Annual Report,” Greyhound Racing New Zealand, grnz.co.nz (accessed April 29, 2020).
  2. "Greyhound breeder directory," Greyhound Data, greyhound-data.com (accessed October 6, 2014).
  3. ”Greyhound exports,” Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, agriculture.gov.au (accessed April 1, 2020).
  4. "Rules and Constitution of New Zealand Greyhound Racing Association (Incorporated)," Greyhound Racing New Zealand, thedogs.co.nz (accessed October 6, 2014).
  5. Nicholas Jones, “’Disturbing’ greyhound death rate revealed,” The New Zealand Herald, nzherald.co.nz (accessed April 29, 2020).
  6. “2019 Annual Report,” Greyhound Racing New Zealand, grnz.co.nz (accessed April 29, 2020); Kristin Hall, “Nearly 50 greyhound deaths not recorded in industry's annual report, prompting calls for transparency,” 1 News, January 7, 2021, tvnz.co.nz (accessed February 12, 2021).
  7. “2018 Annual Report,” Greyhound Racing New Zealand, grnz.co.nz (accessed April 20, 2020).
  8. Iain Hyndman, "Asian markets tempting lure for Wanganui," The New Zealand Herald, October 24, 2013, www.nzherald.co.nz (accessed October 6, 2014).
  9. Michael Morrah, "Racing regulator inquires condition of dogs owned by John Mclerney, NZ's most prolific greyhound trainer," Newshub, May 04, 2022, www.newshub.co.nz (accessed May 11, 2022).
  10. Michael Morrah, "Racing regulator issued up to 300 warnings to greyhound trainers over health and welfare failures in under a year," Newshub, May 05, 2022, www.newshub.co.nz (accessed May 11, 2022).

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