Kiwi greyhounds expected to be sent to Qld ahead of NZ racing ban

Approximately 70 greyhounds are anticipated to be transported from New Zealand to Queensland, Australia, next month as New Zealand prepares to implement a ban on greyhound racing. The charter flight is scheduled to depart from Christchurch for Queensland in July.

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With the message explicitly asking participants to please keep this information confidential.

New Zealand announced its decision to ban greyhound racing from August 1, 2024, citing significant animal welfare concerns. This ban will necessitate the rehoming of over 1,500 dogs within New Zealand. A transition agency has been established to assist owners with rehoming and provide support for industry workers.

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If they survive, they will become the responsibility of Australians to rehome.

Concerns have been raised by Australian Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, who noted that the Australian government has no power to prevent the dogs from being used for racing once they arrive. She expressed worry that this move might be an attempt to circumvent New Zealand's new Greyhound Transition Agency and that the animals could end up in Australia's own rehoming crisis. Greyhound racing is currently legal in most Australian states, though the Australian Capital Territory banned it in 2018 and Tasmania plans to legislate a ban from 2029.

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Greyhound racing remains legal until August 1, and the sport remains under the control of Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ).