Southern shelter a safe haven for dogs and staff

The new, purpose-built facility will work in tandem with the Northern Animal Shelter which was opened in July 2021 in Kaitāia to provide coordinated and district-wide management of animals in the council’s care.

Following the blessing, Kahika (Mayor) Moko Tepania, councillors, council staff, and members of the Bay of Islands Animal Rescue team toured the 300 square metre building. The facility includes 13 individual kennels (three of which can be used for quarantine purposes when required), a vet room, an area for puppies, four exercise areas, as well as an administration block. Outdoor kennels may also be added in the future. It is anticipated that in the future people wanting to view dogs available for adoption will be able to do so by appointment at the shelter.

While waiting for the facility to be built, the Animal Management Team has been based at the council headquarters in Kaikohe, with travel to and from the Northern Shelter in Kaitāia a regular necessity. Staff said the opening of the new facility will significantly reduce travel times and will see far fewer dogs transported long distances. 

The shelter was built over nine months, but the project to create a purpose-built facility has been a much longer one. The land was purchased three years ago with an existing dwelling and commercial kennels on-site. However, a thorough assessment of existing buildings found that the investment required to upgrade them to meet national animal codes of welfare would be almost the same as building a completely new facility. A purpose-built animal shelter also has the advantage of providing greater certainty over the facility’s lifespan with lower on-going maintenance costs.

The cost of developing the new facility was approximately $2.4million. In July 2020, the council was awarded $1 million for two animal shelter projects through a successful funding bid to the Provincial Development Unit following Government calls for post-lockdown, shovel-ready projects. The remaining budget for the southern shelter was drawn from existing budgets including from the Long Term Plan 2021-2031. 

Other local hapū, Ngāti Tautahi and Ngāti Whakaeke, were included in the consultation process.

Photo below - Te Uri o Hua kaumatua Wikitoria Te Whata (second from left) performed the blessing, supported by Paul Wihongi and Tamaiti Wihongi. Piripi Rakena - Kaiarahi Kaupapa Māori, from the council’s Te Hono team (far left).

Below - kaumatua Wikitoria Te Whata blessing the new facilities.

Below - Kahika Tepania handed the ribbon cutting honours to staff now based at the shelter.

Below - animal management staff gave Kahika Tepania, Councillor Tāmati Rākena and others a tour of the new facilities.

Below - an example of one of the kennels. Blankets will be provided to dogs on arrival.