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Dog Control Act 1996

Prohibition on import of certain dogs

30A: Prohibition on import of dogs listed in Schedule 4

You could also call this:

"Some dog breeds are banned from entering New Zealand, check the rules before bringing a dog in."

You cannot bring certain dogs into New Zealand. These dogs are listed in Schedule 4. You are not allowed to import them.

If you want to bring a dog into New Zealand, it must have a special registration or a statutory declaration saying it is not one of the banned dogs. The statutory declaration must say that, to the best of your knowledge, the dog is not one of the breeds listed in Schedule 4.

The dog must also have a certificate from a veterinarian in the country where the dog comes from. This certificate must say that the dog is not one of the breeds listed in Schedule 4.

If you break this rule, you can get a fine of up to $3,000. Some dogs are exempt from this rule, like disability assist dogs or dogs used by certain agencies. A dog includes its embryo, ova, or semen, and an exempting statutory declaration is a special document that says the dog is not one of the banned breeds.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM374879.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Police and safetyImmigration and citizenship > Border control
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30AProhibition on import of dogs listed in Schedule 4

  1. No person may import into New Zealand any dog that belongs wholly or predominantly to 1 or more breed or type of dog listed in Schedule 4.

  2. No person may import a dog into New Zealand unless the dog is accompanied by—

  3. evidence of registration in New Zealand; or
    1. an exempting statutory declaration.

      1. The exempting statutory declaration required by subsection (2)(b) must also be accompanied by a veterinarian's certificate in relation to the dog that—

      2. is issued—
        1. in the country from which the dog is imported or is to be imported; and
          1. by a veterinarian registered in that country; and
            1. before the arrival of the dog in New Zealand; and
            2. is to the effect that to the best of the veterinarian's knowledge and belief, the dog is not a dog listed in Schedule 4.

              1. Every person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $3,000.

              2. Subsections (1) and (2)(b) do not apply in respect of—

              3. any dog—
                1. performing the same function as a disability assist dog (if the dog has been certified as being trained to perform that function by a recognised organisation in the country where the person who the dog assists usually resides); and
                  1. accompanying and assisting that person or accompanying a person genuinely engaged in the dog's training; or
                  2. any dog—
                    1. that is kept, used, or certified for use by a specified agency; and
                      1. is being used for the purpose of carrying out in a lawful manner any function, duty, or power of that agency.

                      2. In this section,—

                        dog includes the embryo, ova, or semen of a dog that belongs wholly or predominantly to 1 or more breed or type of dog listed in Schedule 4

                          exempting statutory declaration, in relation to any dog, means a statutory declaration—

                          1. that is made in New Zealand by or on behalf of the importer of the dog; and
                            1. that is to the effect that, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the importer of the dog or of the importer's agent, the dog does not belong wholly or predominantly to 1 or more breed or type of dog listed in Schedule 4.

                            Notes
                            • Section 30A: inserted, on , by section 17 of the Dog Control Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 119).
                            • Section 30A(4): amended, on , by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).
                            • Section 30A(5): amended, on , by section 32 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 75).
                            • Section 30A(5)(a): substituted, on , by section 11 of the Dog Control Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 23).