How to Obtain a Dog Permit from DOC
If you want to explore many of New Zealand’s outdoors with your dog, you’ll need to obtain a dog permit from DOC (Department of Conservation). Due to conservation efforts, bird population, and traversing through private farmland, DOC has put a permit system in place for certain areas. It’s easy, though, and here’s a quick guide on how to obtain them.
Dog Access Areas
There are three types of access zones for dogs on DOC land:
Open Access - dogs are allowed and don’t need a permit. Check online or on posted signage for leash laws.
Controlled Access - Permit Access: these areas are where you need permits.
Controlled Access - No Dogs.
How to Obtain a Permit
You’ve found your desired dog-friendly walk on DOC’s site - hooray! But you just noticed it has a blue dog and document icon next to text displaying; “Dogs with DOC permit only. Contact the relevant DOC office to obtain a permit”, on the page. Here are your quick and simple tips to obtaining that permit:
Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the relevant DOC office’s email address.
Email the listed address with the following:
Your name
Your contact details (address, email, and phone number)
Intended walk
Intended dates of the walk
Your dog’s name
Your dog’s registration number
Your dog’s breed, colouring, and weight
Send the email and wait for a reply. DOC says it can take up to five days to issue a permit, but I’ve typically had mine processed the same day.
You’ll receive an email back with additional questions or a signed permit.
Print out the signed permit and keep it in your tramping gear.
Some permits last for months, while others last for your intended stay. If you’re attempting a longer multi-day hike, I recommend requesting a few days after your intended end of the walk to avoid being permitless.
I have never been asked to produce my permit on a walk, but I’d rather be safe than sorry so I always carry it with me. You may be issued an infringement fine if found without a permit and if you’re in a no-dog zone, your dog could be seized or destroyed. I’m not sure if that’s ever been enforced, but I am not willing to find out.
*An important note: Permits are not issued over the weekend or at i-Sites. If you intend to obtain your permit on the same day from a DOC office or i-Site at the location of your hike, you may not get one! Better to plan ahead.
Why Does DOC Require These Permits?
The main reason DOC controls dog access is to protect New Zealand’s native birds. Most are flightless, vulnerable things that stand no chance against a dog. Some are so fragile that even a tiny nudge from a dog muzzle can crack a rib cage.
On private farmland, dog access is controlled because dogs can spread diseases, especially among sheep. Sheep measles and E. Coli can be spread by dogs, so it’s important to make sure you keep up to date about access to farm areas, as these can close periodically depending on outbreaks.
Dog access control also helps to protect and respect other people’s rights to use and enjoy public lands. While I am 100% for more dog access, I’ve noticed a very relaxed dog-owner attitude in New Zealand on public lands. I’ve had dogs rush aggressively at me and Trapper, seen owners not pick up their dog’s poo, and watched unsupervised dogs trample native flora and taunt seals. It disheartens me to see this behaviour far outweigh good dog behaviour, so I understand why dog access is restricted. Until we can learn to take more responsibility for our pets, our access will remain restricted.
How to Find Dog Friendly Hikes
If you’re specifically looking to walk, tramp, and camp on DOC land, head over to their Walking and Tramping page. From there, select your region, duration, and difficulty. Be sure to tick the “dogs allowed” box and then filter your available walks.
I have found this page to be clunky and sometimes misses dog areas that require permits. There are many other ways to find dog-friendly hikes, and I’m working on a more comprehensive recourse for that. Stay tuned!
A Few Other Notes:
National Parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and nature reserves do not allow dogs, except in some extreme circumstances.
Hunting Permits vs Recreation Permits
A hunting permit for a dog is different than a recreation permit. Dogs are sometimes allowed in otherwise off-limits areas with a hunting permit, but only with a true intention of hunting. This isn’t a sneaky loophole to get your dog into more areas.
Kiwi Aversion Training
Dog owners have the option of putting their dogs through Avain Awareness and Avoidance Training to access more areas. The training uses shock therapy to teach dogs how to avoid native birds and their habitats. Dogs need to be retested once a year.
We have not put Trapper through this training. From what I have heard, the access areas don’t open up significantly, and I have no interest in shock training. We keep Trapper on a leash 100% of the time, so I find this training less necessary for the areas we’re accessing.
1080 and Dogs
1080 is toxic to dogs. Check the Pesticides Summary Map by DOC or the alerts page on DOC’s website to see if there has been a recent or planned drop in your intended area.
Huts
Dogs are not allowed in huts, ever. Sometimes a hut will have a pen outside for dogs or a designated area to tie them up, but other times it’s up to the tramper to find a suitable place for them to sleep. Since Trapper would rather die (or howl all night) than be left alone outside, we bring a tent and pitch it outside the hut for the three of us to sleep in.
Get out there and enjoy!
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