Greyhounds in Aotearoa

Greyhounds are a unique and remarkable breed, known for their incredible speed, gentle nature and distinctive appearance. Although they have historically been associated with racing, there is far more to a greyhound than their ability to run. Greyhounds are generally calm, affectionate and intelligent dogs, and many enjoy spending much of their time sleeping and relaxing. Their lives, however, have traditionally been shaped by the racing industry, meaning that many greyhounds experience a significant change when their racing careers come to an end.

What is greyhound racing?

Greyhound racing is a form of organised racing in which greyhounds compete around a track while chasing a mechanically operated lure. Dogs are bred, trained and registered specifically for racing, with races taking place at dedicated tracks. In New Zealand, greyhound racing operated as part of the country's wider racing and betting industry, with thousands of races held over many years.

For a racing greyhound, life can involve extensive training, kennelling, travelling and competition. Dogs may begin training while relatively young and can spend a significant part of their lives within the racing system. Once a greyhound is no longer considered suitable for racing, whether because of age, performance, injury or other circumstances, it enters a different stage of its life.

This transition is important because life after racing can be very different from life within the industry. A retired racing greyhound may need to adjust to living in a household, experiencing unfamiliar noises and environments, walking on a lead, interacting with different people and animals, and following a completely different daily routine. This does not mean that greyhounds cannot become wonderful pets — rather, it highlights the importance of understanding their individual needs and giving them appropriate support.

Why did greyhound racing end in New Zealand?

The decision to end commercial greyhound racing in New Zealand was primarily driven by concerns about animal welfare. The industry had been subject to three major reviews, in 2013, 2017 and 2021, all of which identified significant welfare and safety concerns requiring change. Although improvements were made within the industry, the Government concluded that injury rates remained persistently too high.

In December 2024, the Government announced its intention to end greyhound racing in New Zealand. At the time, the Government estimated that approximately 2,900 racing greyhounds would need to be accounted for during the transition away from racing. The planned 20-month wind-down period was intended to provide time for the dogs to be transitioned into homes and for people working within the industry to prepare for the end of racing.

The legislation formally ending commercial greyhound racing passed Parliament on 2 April 2026 with strong cross-party support and received Royal Assent on 8 April. Racing subsequently ended on 31 July 2026, meaning that from 1 August 2026 commercial greyhound racing was no longer permitted in New Zealand.

The decision was not based on the idea that greyhounds themselves are the problem. Instead, it reflects concerns about whether the racing system can provide an acceptable level of welfare for the animals involved. The end of racing therefore represents a major change in the lives of thousands of greyhounds and creates a responsibility to ensure their welfare remains a priority throughout the transition.

What happens to the greyhounds now?

The end of racing does not mean that every greyhound suddenly needs a new home on the same day. Some owners have chosen to keep their greyhounds as pets, while others can transfer ownership of their dogs to the Greyhound Transition Agency for care and rehoming. The Agency is responsible for coordinating the transition and working with existing adoption and rehoming organisations.

The Greyhound Rehoming Project is intended to coordinate a nationwide effort to care for and rehome racing greyhounds. Dogs transferred to the Agency can be cared for by experienced carers and placed through a preparation programme designed to help them adjust to life as pets. The Agency is also working with established adoption organisations that already have experience with greyhounds.

This is an enormous undertaking. The Government's earlier planning identified an estimated 1,500 dogs potentially remaining when racing was due to end, while the original estimate in December 2024 was approximately 2,900 racing greyhounds requiring transition support. The exact number requiring rehoming depends on how many owners retain their dogs and how many are transferred into the transition programme.

Funding the transition

Funding is a particularly important part of the transition. Rehoming a greyhound is not simply a matter of finding someone willing to take a dog home. Dogs may require veterinary care, behavioural support, training, food, accommodation, transport and preparation before they are ready for adoption.

Under the new transition arrangements, the Greyhound Transition Agency is primarily funded by TAB New Zealand, using funds that previously went towards greyhound racing. The Agency's responsibilities include supporting the care, training and rehoming of greyhounds, as well as helping existing rehoming organisations expand their capacity.

The Agency has also stated that veterinary services will continue to be funded during the transition. Prior to the end of racing, some veterinary services for dogs in the rehoming process were funded by Greyhound Racing New Zealand; from 1 August 2026, responsibility for appropriately funding these services for dogs owned by the Agency transferred to the Greyhound Transition Agency.

The financial side of the transition matters because existing rehoming organisations have historically worked with a system designed around a continuing racing industry. Now, the number of dogs needing support is expected to increase while the racing industry itself is disappearing. The Government has therefore recognised the need to provide resources and coordination so established adoption organisations can increase their capacity.

Is the Current Funding Enough?

While the Government has established funding for the transition away from greyhound racing, there are serious questions about whether the resources available will be sufficient to meet the scale and cost of the challenge. More than 1,700 greyhounds are currently expected to require transition support as racing ends, and the Greyhound Transition Agency is responsible for overseeing their care, housing, training, veterinary needs and rehoming. The cost of supporting even one dog can quickly add up when veterinary treatment, food, accommodation, desexing, vaccinations, microchipping, behavioural preparation, transport and ongoing care are considered. If the average transition cost were just $5,000 per greyhound, supporting 1,700 dogs would require approximately $8.5 million; at $10,000 per dog, the figure would reach $17 million. These figures demonstrate how quickly costs can escalate, particularly when some dogs require more extensive veterinary or behavioural support than others. The Government has not publicly set a fixed total funding amount for the entire rehoming programme; instead, legislation requires TAB NZ to provide funding approved by the Racing Minister according to the Agency's budget. This lack of a publicly stated overall figure makes it difficult for the public to assess whether funding is genuinely adequate. RunToHomeNZ believes funding should be based on the actual welfare needs of every greyhound, rather than an arbitrary budget limit. At a minimum, funding should be sufficient to guarantee veterinary care, safe accommodation, food, behavioural support, preparation for life as a pet and appropriate rehoming support for every dog for as long as necessary. The transition is currently planned to run until July 2029, with the possibility of an extension, meaning funding must be sustainable for the entire process rather than concentrated only around the end of racing. Ending racing is only the first step — New Zealand must also fund the responsibility that comes afterwards.

The challenge of rehoming thousands of dogs

One of the biggest challenges facing greyhounds in Aotearoa is ensuring that the transition does not simply end when racing does. The closure of the tracks is only the beginning of a much longer process.

Greyhounds will continue to need homes, veterinary care, food, training and behavioural support after the final race has been run. Some dogs may adjust quickly to domestic life, while others may need more time and individual support. Finding suitable homes is therefore about more than numbers — it is about making sure that each dog is placed somewhere appropriate for its personality, needs and circumstances.

The Government's transition framework allows the Greyhound Transition Agency to operate from July 2026 to July 2029, with the possibility of an extension of up to two additional years if required. This recognises that successfully transitioning the entire population of former racing greyhounds is likely to take considerable time.

Existing greyhound adoption organisations will continue to play an important role. Rather than replacing these organisations, the transition programme is designed to provide additional resources and coordination so that they can increase the number of dogs they are able to support.

Why advocacy still matters

With racing now ended, advocacy for greyhounds remains just as important as ever. The end of the industry does not automatically guarantee that every greyhound will have a safe and fulfilling future. Public awareness, responsible ownership, adequate funding and continued attention to animal welfare will all be essential.

This is where RunToHomeNZ has an important role to play. We are not a rehoming organisation, nor do we directly place greyhounds into homes. Instead, our purpose is to advocate for greyhounds, raise awareness and provide information about the changes taking place across Aotearoa.

We believe that people cannot support greyhound welfare if they do not understand the situation. By sharing accurate information about greyhounds, racing, the transition away from the industry and the challenges surrounding life after racing, we can help give these dogs a stronger voice.

The end of greyhound racing marks the beginning of a new chapter for greyhounds in New Zealand. The goal should not simply be to end racing, but to ensure that the dogs left behind are treated with compassion, dignity and respect throughout the years that follow. Every greyhound deserves the opportunity to be valued for what they are beyond the track — individual dogs with their own personalities, needs and capacity to become loving companions.

The finish line for racing should be the starting line for a better future for greyhounds.