The new Waipā District Council Dog Control Policy and Bylaw will come into effect from 1 December 2023.

In June, the community had their say and after considering all the feedback and deliberations the council adopted the new Dog Control Bylaw and Policy in September.

Location	Current dog rules	New rules from 1 December
Lake Te Koo Utu Park and Camelia Path	Off-leash.	Daylight Saving Time: Off-leash between 6pm and 10am and on-leash between 10am and 6pm. Winter Time: Off-leash between 3pm and 10am and on-leash between 10am to 3pm.
John Kerkhof Park	Perimeter walkway dogs off-leash and sports fields prohibited.	Playing fields remain prohibited to dogs, and the perimeter walkway becomes dogs on-leash only.
Karāpiro Gully	On-leash.	Prohibited.
MacLean Street Reserve	Prohibited.	Off-leash. New dog exercise park.
Motocross Track site (Lamb Street)	On-leash.	Off-leash. New dog exercise park.
Oak Arboretum	On-leash.	Off-leash. New dog exercise park.
Pūkeko Grove	On-leash.	Off-leash. New dog exercise park.
Brian Mayo Reserve	Off-leash.	Off-leash, including walkways leading to/from the eastern [Expressway] end of the reserve.
Victoria Square	Prohibited.	Daylight Saving Time: Prohibited. Winter time: On-leash. Dogs are also prohibited at any time of the year in the area of the Square being used for an event (including the Farmers’ Market).
South of Payne Park	Not available.	Off-leash. New dog exercise park.

For the full detail of where you can or cannot exercise your dog in these areas from 1 December please view the Cambridge dog exercise and prohibited areas map here.

Location	Current dog rules	New rules from 1 December
Waipuke Foreshore area	On-leash.	Daylight Saving Time: Off-leash between 6pm and 10am and on-leash between 10am and 6pm. Winter Time: Off-leash between 3pm and 10am and on-leash between 10am to 3pm.
Waipuke Park	Not available.	Off-leash. New dog exercise park. (Open March)

For the full detail of where you can or cannot exercise your dog in these areas from 1 December please view the Maungatautari / Karāpiro dog exercise and prohibited areas map here.

Location	Current dog rules	New rules from 1 December
Pekarau Reserve	On-leash / not available.	Off-leash. New dog exercise park.
Te Awamutu Memorial Park and walkway to Racecourse Road	Off-leash between the Mangaohoi Stream and Christie Avenue, and to the walkway around the tennis courts to Racecourse Road.	Daylight Saving Time: Off-leash between 6pm and 10am and on-leash between 10am and 6pm. Winter Time: Off-leash between 3pm and 10am and on-leash between 10am to 3pm.
Kihikihi Domain	Off-leash.	Prohibited from the rugby and cricket playing fields. Remainder of the domain to stay off-leash.

For the full detail of where you can or cannot exercise your dog in these areas from 1 December please view the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi dog exercise and prohibited areas map here.

Location	Current dog rules	New rules from 1 December
Ōhaupō Memorial Park	Dog exercise / off-leash area is at the upper reserve around playing fields.	Dog exercise / off-leash area moved to the lower reserve. Sports grounds are prohibited.
Lake Rotomanuka	On-leash.	Prohibited.
Lake Ruatuna	On-leash.	Prohibited.

For the full detail of where you can or cannot exercise your dog in these areas from 1 December please view the Ōhaupō dog exercise and prohibited areas map here.

Location	Current dog rules	New rules from 1 December
Pirongia Esplanade	Off-leash in reserve and walkway.	Off-leash in the reserve. Walkway from Franklin road dogs on-leash.
Lake Ngā Roto	Dogs on-leash and off-leash in boat club car park.	Dogs on-leash only on the walkway. Dogs off-leash at the boat club car park area.
Lake Rotopiko	On-leash.	Dogs prohibited.
Kakepuku maunga	On-leash.	Dogs prohibited.

For the full detail of where you can or cannot exercise your dog in these areas from 1 December please view the Rural dog exercise and prohibited areas map here.

Cemeteries
Dogs are required to be on-leash in council-managed cemeteries.

Sport grounds and playing fields

Some existing, and all new council-owned playing fields will be dog prohibited.

Existing prohibited playing fields:

• Cambridge Rugby Grounds.
• John Kerkhof Park.
• Leamington Sports ground.
• Kihikihi Domain Rugby and Cricket Fields.
• Te Awamutu Events Centre.
• Pirongia Rugby Football Club.
• Ōhaupō Memorial sport fields.

Limits on the number of dogs being exercised
The maximum number of dogs any one person can exercise off-leash at any one time is four.

Exercising dogs from vehicles
Dogs are not allowed to be running alongside a moving vehicle on a public road.

Emergency Welfare Centres
During an emergency when welfare centres are activated dogs will be allowed into those centres that are situated in a location that would ordinarily be prohibited to dogs.

Neutering
If an owner receives a notice from Council requiring them to have their dog neutered they will be able to appeal this decision to Council.