Animals and stock

Our Animal Control team focuses on minimizing danger, distress and nuisance to the public, as well as educating animal owners about their responsibilities.

Phone us any time on 0800 WAIPA DC (0800 924 723) for our 24-hour, district-wide service for all dog and stock control calls.

For non-urgent queries, contact our customer support team at info@waipadc.govt.nz.

Keeping animals in urban areas

Our focus is whether animals are likely to cause a nuisance or not.

For example, the number of chickens you can keep is restricted in urban areas, and roosters aren’t permitted – but larger animals, excluding pigs) are permitted on larger, empty sections.

For the full regulations, visit the District Plan rules for housing and keeping of animals.

Pests

Pests like rats or pigeons are usually the responsibility of the landowner or occupiers when on private property.

We will only become involved if there is a public health issue, or if the problem exists on our land. Some wild pests, such as possums and rabbits, may be subject to Waikato Regional Council controls.

Cats

We don’t have formal control over cats unless a public health issue exists.

If you have concerns for the welfare of domestic or stray cats, please pass the information to the SPCA office.
If you have concerns regarding feral cats we recommend contacting Waikato Regional Council.

Stock

Stock can include any horse, cattle, deer, ass, mule, sheep, pig, or goat.

Wandering Stock	Council will respond to complaints of stock wandering in public places or on roads where they may cause a traffic hazard. To notify Council of wandering stock, contact our Customer Experience team by phoning 0800 924 723.
Trespassing Stock	Council has very limited powers in respect to trespassing stock on private property. Stock trespassing from one property to another is a civil issue. The Impounding Act 1955 outlines the processes available to deal with trespassing stock. It also refers to poultry and other animals.

Need more information? Check out our Stock Brochure

Animal welfare

District councils are not approved organisations under the Animal Welfare Act, so have no animal welfare powers (except for some very limited ones related only to dogs).

Concerns regarding animal welfare should be directed to the SPCA or the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Stock impound fees

First impounding

Description	Fees and charges 2025-26		Fees and charges 2026-27
	First animal	Per animal thereafter	First animal	Per animal thereafter
Horses, cattle, mules, asses, deer and pigs	$78.00 plus, transport costs	$27.00	$80.00 plus, transport costs	$28.00
Sheep, goats and others	$78.00 plus, transport costs	$27.00	$80.00 plus, transport costs	$28.00
Subsequent impounding within the same financial year involving animals owned by the same person or organisation	Number of impoundings x relevant fee		Number of impoundings x relevant fee
Additional after-hours fee (5pm to 8am, weekends and statutory holidays)	$80.00		$82.00

Driving charges

Responding to complaints, driving stock from road to pound or owner’s property or another place.

$163.00 per hour per officer and mileage at $1.04 per km (2025/26) and $1.05 per km (2026/27) local government rate for Animal Control Officer’s/Ranger’s time plus any other reasonable costs incurred.

Grazing per day

Description	Fees and charges 2025-26	Fees and charges 2026-27
Horses, cattle, mules, ass, deer and pigs	$9.00	$9.00
Sheep, goats and others (plus costs of any hard feeds, i.e. hay, grain)	$2.50	$3.00

All other costs incurred as the result of impoundment are payable by the owner on release of the animal/s. Such costs may include cartage, droving, advertising, feed, veterinary attention, etc.