Dog registration

All dogs in Buller need to be registered.

Registration needs to be renewed annually and must be paid by 31 July each year.
You must ensure that your dog is wearing a current registration tag at all times.
Puppies must be registered before they reach 3 months of age.

Registering your dog

If your dog is not already registered with us, you will need to get your best friend a Buller District tag. There can be different reasons for your dog not being registered with Council, including if your dog has just moved to the district, or if your puppy has grown up and is now older than three months.

Dogs can be registered at Council's offices in Westport and Reefton during opening hours, 8.30 am - 4.30 pm Monday to Friday. Our Customer Services teams will help you to register your furry friend.

If you can't make it to our service centres, please give our friendly team a ring and we can send a form out to you.

You can contact our Animal Management Officers on Council’s 24-hour number, 03 788 9111 or 0800 807 239 or email info@bdc.govt.nz if you have further questions.

2025/2026 dog registration

Owners who have already registered their dogs will receive their dog registration forms at the end of June. Registration fees for 2025/2026 are:

Desexed $69.50
Entire $89.50

If your dog is not registered with us, you will not receive a dog registration form. Please call into our offices in Westport or Reefton during office hours, 8.30 am - 4.30 pm Monday to Friday, and the team will help you to register your furry friend.

Replacement tags for those which are lost or stolen are also available for a minimal charge at Council's offices.

A penalty of 50% of the appropriate dog registration fee applies (from 2 August each year).

Key dates for dog registration:

30 June: Dog owners who have their dog registered with Council will receive their dog registration form in their letterbox.
1 July: Dog owners can pay their registration fee and pick up their red tag at Council’s offices in Westport or Reefton.
31 July: Dog registration is due.
2 August: A penalty of 50% of the appropriate dog registration fee applies.

Working dog rate

If you use your dog principally for herding or droving stock, it is eligible for our working dog rate.

Desexed $52.50
Entire $67.50

Things you need to know

Rules and regulations

The legislation relating to registration of dogs is covered by the Dog Control Act 1996. If you keep a dog, then it must be registered. A dog owner may be fined up to $300 for failing to register a dog.

Registered dogs moving into the district receive free registration for the remainder of the registration year, provided the owner produces proof of current registration and swaps their current tag for a Buller District tag. Puppies that turn 12 weeks old during the registration year pay a pro rata fee for the remainder of that year.

As a dog owner you must contact the Buller District Council if you:

Move house or district.
Have a new phone number.
Give your dog to someone else.
Have a new dog.
Have had your dog microchipped or desexed recently.

Council has its district-specific Dog Control Policy, which sets out detailed rules around keeping dogs in the Buller District.

Change of ownership

If a dog's ownership changes, its registration continues, but the previous owner and the new owner must advise Council of the changes within 14 days of the change of ownership.

When you advise Council of the change of ownership, it must be done in writing and include the new owner's address and the address where the dog will ordinarily be kept. Please use the Notification of dog ownership change form.

Infringement fees

Infringement notices or prosecution can result from the following:

Roaming dogs.
Dogs rushing or attacks on persons, pets, stock or wildlife.
Non-compliance with any part of the Dog Control Act 1996.

You can view the infringement fees on our Fees and Charges page under 'Dog registration and other animal management fees'.

If you have any queries, complaints or problems regarding dog registration, lost or found dogs, barking dogs, dangerous dogs, or impounded dogs, please call Animal Control on 03 788 9111 or 0800 807 239.

Permission to own more than three dogs

Please contact an Animal Control Officer for information on how to apply for permission to own more than three dogs or download the application form here.

Contact details:

24-hour Animal Control Services
Phone: 03 788 9111