Dog registration fees for 2026/27 

Dog owners across our district will be receiving their annual dog registration notices. Registrations are due 31 July 2026.  

Our district is home to around 5,500 registered dogs, and we’re proud to support a community that values responsible dog ownership. 

For the 2026/27 year, fees will increase around 6% (or a $10 increase), reflecting the rising cost of delivering animal control services. We’ve worked hard to keep this increase as low as possible while continuing to provide a reliable, responsive, and safety-focused service. Importantly, we continue to recognise and support responsible dog owners. Discounts remain available for eligible dog owners. You can view the full list of fees, charges, and available discounts on our website. 

In the last year we have been able to support the dogs in the pound by finding them new loving homes, with 47 dogs starting new lives.

What your registration fee supports

Your dog registration fee helps ensure we can continue to provide a range of services that support both dog owners and the wider community, including:

• Responding to complaints and incidents, including dog attacks
• Managing stray and wandering dogs and reuniting them with their owners
• Providing impoundment and shelter services
• Carrying out patrols and property inspections
• Supporting responsible dog ownership through education

Delivering a service for our community

Our animal control team works hard to support both dog owners and the wider community. Over the past year:

• We responded to 696 complaints, including barking and wandering dogs
• We managed 13 reported dog bite incidents
• Carried out 937 patrols across the district
• Impounded 191 dogs and worked to reunite many with their owners

We currently have one full-time Animal Control Officer and one part-time officer (30 hours per week), supported by administration and pound staff. Together, they deliver a 24/7 service, including after-hours response supported by contracted providers.

Why the fee increase is needed

While registration fees contribute significantly to the cost of the service, they do not fully cover the total cost of delivering animal control. Like many councils, we are seeing increased costs across staffing, compliance, and operational delivery.

We continue to carefully balance user fees and rates funding, recognising that animal control is not only about individual dog ownership, but also about public safety and community wellbeing.

Dog registration is a legal requirement under the Dog Control Act 1996. All dogs must be registered by 3 months of age and renewed annually by 31 July.

How to register:

You can register or renew your dogs or make changes to your registration:

• In our online portal
• At your local council office

The last day for payment without penalty is 31 July 2026. Late registrations incur a 50% penalty, and unregistered dogs may result in a $300 infringement in addition to the registration fee.

Thank you for helping keep our community safe and supporting responsible dog ownership across Matamata-Piako.