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4 June 2025
A ban on greyhound racing has sparked backlash in Waikato, raising concerns over lost livelihoods, dog welfare, and a rushed decision-making process. Jesse Wood finds out what’s at stake.
Natthakan Srisuk and Michael Lozell care for up to 12 greyhounds at a time through the Great Mates rehoming programme at their Te Kūiti home. Photo: King Country News
No warning. No consultation. Just a deadline.
The greyhound racing industry has been blindsided by the government’s decision to shut it down by July 2026 — leaving behind a $13 million hole in Waikato’s economy and more than 2900 dogs needing homes.
And that’s just the beginning.
Greyhound racing contributes around $133 million annually to New Zealand’s economy, with a significant share generated in the Waikato region.
But the government’s sudden move to shut the sport down has left industry participants reeling.
Racing minister Winston Peters says the ban allows time to rehome the dogs. But with Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ) already spending more than $8.5 million a year on rehoming, the scale of the task ahead is daunting.
“It’s not just about finding homes — it’s about finding the right homes,” says Jenny Bartlett, a Cambridge-based greyhound advocate and former Waikato Greyhound Racing president.
“The whole rehoming side of it is all for the dog. It’s not whether the dog’s right for you. It’s if you’re right for that dog. It takes time to get that right.
“They all make the most amazing pets, they’ve got a great nature, but you have to get the right home for each dog,” she says.
“You tell me how we’re going to do it. I’d like to ask Winston that myself.”
Bartlett warns that the 2900 figure is conservative, not accounting for puppies, breeding dogs, and sires.
She says the government’s own Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) has acknowledged the rehoming process could take up to 30 months beyond the ban date.
“We were absolutely blindsided,” she says. “Trainers had dogs in breeding cycles with no idea this was coming.”
GRNZ filed for a judicial review of the government’s decision last month, arguing that the industry was denied a fair chance to respond.
It was a rushed and inadequate Cabinet paper, says chief executive Edward Rennell.
“The government took its decision too lightly and too quickly. It’s an injustice to breeders, owners, trainers, and everyone involved.”
The judicial review aims to expose what he says is a “cavalier attitude to policymaking” that has real consequences for thousands of New Zealanders.
The fallout extends beyond the dogs. Bartlett estimates Cambridge Raceway could lose $100,000 annually in rent. Local businesses — from vets and feed suppliers to cafes and TAB staff — are also expected to suffer.
For Te Awamutu-based trainer Corey Steele, the decision has shattered his family’s future. A third-generation greyhound handler, Steele has poured nearly $100,000 into building kennels and facilities.
Wayne Steele of Te Awamutu, with Amber, one of his racing greyhounds. Photo: Jeremy Smith
“Mum and Dad spent 30 years building this place,” he says. “Now it’s all worthless. The sheds, the irrigation, the paddocks — it’s all for nothing.”
Even on Christmas Day, Steele and his family are out caring for the dogs.
“When we had Covid, we were crawling through the kennels to make sure the dogs were fed and cared for. The dogs always come first. But now, no one’s thinking about the welfare of the human.”
With a judicial review of the government’s decision still pending, the future of greyhound racing — and the people and animals who depend on it remains uncertain.
With thousands of dogs needing homes, livelihoods on the line, and no clear roadmap in place, the greyhound racing industry is staring down a crisis. For many, this isn’t just the end of a sport—it’s the collapse of a community, a culture, and a way of life.
Trainers, breeders, and support workers who’ve dedicated decades to the care of these animals now face an uncertain future. The dogs they’ve raised, raced, and loved are caught in the middle of a political decision.
“There’s still a lot of water to go under the bridge,” Bartlett says. “But right now, we’re left with more questions than answers.”
Forty greyhounds and their owners walked the Cambridge greyhound track four years ago for an educational day organised by the Waikato Greyhound Racing Club. Photo: Bodiam Photography.
