Photo: RNZ / Felix WaltonAuckland Council is hoping recent tragic dog attacks, including a fatal attack, will make the government step in and make changes. The attacks have sparked calls for an overhaul of the Dog Control Act - with Te Rore being the fourth person killed by dogs in the past four years. The Dog Control Act was nearly 30 years old and very outdated, Irvine said. But its initiatives were not enough - and changes were needed to the Act, Irvine said. Local Government Minister Simon Watts previously said he was seeking advice on how central government could respond to the attacks and the Dog Control Act.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 23, 2026 01:00 UTC