Register your dog
Dogs must be registered from three months of age, or as soon as they come into your possession.
The dog registration year is 1 July to 30 June. Your dog must have its registration renewed each year on or after the 1st of July. Owners of registered dogs will be sent a registration renewal form so they can do this easily.
The Dog Control Act 1996 must be adhered to when you own a dog. Council maintain a Dog Management Policy to help you with this.
Renew your dog registration online
Pay your re-registration fee online from 1 July. You will need your dog registration renewal letter that has the Dog ID on it.
Please note: Payments made online are for standard charges as shown in our fees and charges schedule.
Discounts for the sixth dog, and for Gold Card or Community Services Card holders must be applied for in person at one of our service centres. Card holders must present a valid card to be eligible.
Before you renew your registration, please read the terms and conditions.
Renew your dog registration here
Register a new dog
Before you begin
Please ensure you have read and understood the terms and conditions.
Follow the simple steps below to register your new dog.
Step 1. Compile the relevant information
- Know your dog's breed
- if your dog has been de-sexed, have a digital photograph or scan of the veterinary certificate
- if your dog has been micro-chipped, have the microchip number and a digital photograph or scan of the microchip certificate
- know your dog's registration class. More information is shown below to help you select the correct class.
- a photo of your dog. An optional piece of information to attach to your registration.
Step 2. Complete the form online and pay the fee
Go to the online portal and register your new dog.
You will be able to pay online using your Visa or Mastercard.
Once the registration fee has been paid you will receive an email confirming we have received the application, along with a payment receipt. Our administration team will review and process your application and once this is complete your dog will be registered and a dog tag will be posted to you within ten working days.
Register a new dog
Step 1. Complete the form
Complete the Dog Registration form.
Step 2. Email us
Email the completed Dog Registration form to ask.us@fndc.govt.nz.
Step 3. Pay the fee
The registration fee needs to be paid before your dog is registered and a tag is posted. You can pay online, over the phone or by visiting a Council Service Centre. Your dog will now be deemed as registered.
Step 1. Call us
Call us to request a Dog Registration form. We can send the form to you by email or post. We can also accept credit card payment details over the phone.
Step 2. Complete the form
Complete the Dog Registration form and send it to us by emailing ask.us@fndc.govt.nz or post it to:
Dog Registration
Far North District Council
Private Bag 752
Kaikohe 0440
Step 3. Pay the fee
The registration fee will need to be paid before your dog is registered and a tag is posted.
You can pay online, over the phone or by visiting a Council Service Centre. Once we receive the completed form and payment of the fee, we will post a registration tag to you. Your dog will now be registered.
Step 1. Visit us
Visit us at a Council Service Centre and ask for a Dog Registration form
Step 2. Complete the form
Complete the Dog Registration form and give it to our front counter staff.
Step 3. Pay the fee
The registration fee will need to be paid before your dog is registered and a tag is issued. Pay the fee and our front counter staff will give you a tag. Your dog will then be registered.
Classes of registration
All dogs other than those classed as working, disability assist or menacing.
Dogs that have been identified as menacing by breed or behaviour. There are four breeds of dog and one type of dog that are classified as menacing by breed:
- Brazilian Fila
- Dogo Argentino
- Japanese Tosa
- Perro de Presa Canario
- American Pit Bull Terrier (type of dog)
Menacing by behaviour is determined by an animal control officer. This happens after an investigation into a complaint about the dog has found grounds for the classification.
working dog means—
Any dog
- (i) kept by the Police or any constable, the New Zealand Customs Service, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of Fisheries, or the Ministry of Defence, or any officer or employee of any such department of State solely or principally for the purposes of carrying out the functions, powers, and duties of the Police or the department of State or that constable, officer, or employee; or
- (ii) kept solely or principally for the purposes of herding or driving stock; or
- (iii) kept by the Department of Conservation or any officer or employee of that department solely or principally for the purposes of carrying out the functions, duties, and powers of that department; or
- (iv) kept solely or principally for the purposes of destroying pests or pest agents under any pest management plan under the Biosecurity Act 1993; or
- (iva) kept by the Department of Corrections or any officer or employee of that department solely or principally for the purposes of carrying out the functions, duties, and powers of that department; or
- (ivb) kept by the Aviation Security Service established under section 72B(2) (ca) of the Civil Aviation Act 1990, or any officer or employee of that service solely or principally for the purposes of carrying out the functions, duties, and powers of that service; or
- (ivc) certified for use by the Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management for the purposes of carrying out the functions, duties, and powers conferred by the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002; or
- (v) owned by a property guard as defined in section 9 of the Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Act 2010 or a property guard employee as defined in section 17 of that Act, and kept solely or principally for the purpose of doing the things specified in section 9(1) (a) to (c) of that Act; or (vi) declared by resolution of the territorial authority to be a working dog for the purposes of this Act, or any dog of a class so declared by the authority, being a dog owned by any class of persons specified in the resolution and kept solely or principally for the purposes specified in the resolution.
Dogs certified by one of the following organisations as being a dog trained to assist (or a dog in training to assist) a person with a disability:
- Hearing Dogs for Deaf People New Zealand
- Mobility Assistance Dogs Trust
- New Zealand Epilepsy Assist Dogs Trust
- Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind
- Top Dog Companion Trust
- Or an organisation specified by an Order in Council made under section 78D
Guide dogs for the blind and hearing dogs for the deaf are registered for free throughout New Zealand. Only dogs that are trained or approved by dog trainers, and placed on a national register, are entitled to free registration. For further information about guide dogs and hearing dogs please visit www.hearingdogs.org.nz
About the registration fee
The dog registration fee helps support the following services:
- Maintenance of a dog record database
- Responding to complaints for example: barking, roaming straying, general nuisance, attacks, aggressive behaviour.
- Pick up and care for lost or roaming straying animals
- Monitoring and enforcing Council's dog bylaws
- Implementing Council's policy on dogs
- Taking action against owners of unregistered and uncontrolled dogs
- Implementing the Dog Control Act 1996
If your dog registration is not paid an infringement notice may be served or the dog can be seized.