Dog Exercise Areas

There are many places within Tasman District to exercise your dog, both on and off the leash. There are designated areas specifically for dogs to be able to run free and socialise with other dogs. In all other areas, unless Dog Prohibited Areas, dogs must be under “effective control” which means your dog MUST respond to your commands at all times. This includes voice commands, whistles, hand signals as well as leash control.

Dogs may be exercised on Council owned reserves, unless they are designated as prohibited areas. Council does, how­ever, expect you to respect the rights of other users of the reserves by keeping your dog under effective control at all times. You must always carry a leash with you while you and your dog are out, and use a Doggie Doo bag to remove and hygienically dispose of any dog droppings.

Controlled Dog Exercise Areas

These are areas where you may take your dog to be exercised OFF its leash

Golden Bay

  • Beach from Milnthorpe Quay to Collingwood (east of township)
  • Patons Rock Beach, west of settlement to Pariwhakaoho River mouth
  • Pohara Beach from the end of Pohara Valley Road to eastern boundary of Pohara Camp
  • Rangihaeata Beach
  • Rototai Recreation Reserve and adjacent foreshore out to 300 metres northwest of the reserve

Motueka/Kina

  • Batchelor Ford Road
  • Riwaka River Mouth to Tapu Bay mudflats
  • York Park
  • Kina Beach- exposed seaward side of the beach

Richmond/Mapua

  • Dellside Reserve including track up into Richmond Hills
  • Headingly Lane – mudflat area below high tide mark
  • Old Mill Walkway - Foreshore from Seaward boundary Mapua Leisure Park to Chaytor Reserve
  • Railway Reserve behind Jubilee Park
  • Rough Island – Hunter Brown and Greenslade Park

Wakefield

  • Faulkner Bush Reserve except for the Leash Control Area.

Leash Control Areas

Dogs must be on a leash in:

  • Any urban area (including all villages and settlements)
  • Cemeteries
  • The picnic area at Faulkner Bush Reserve

Dog Prohibited Areas

Dogs are prohibited on all Council sports fields and complexes, and within 10 meters of playground equipment and picnic tables. Dogs are also prohibited in the following areas

Golden Bay

  • Collingwood Camping Ground – summer months*
  • Commercial Street Takaka – from Pioneer Park to Top Town Dairy
  • Ligar Bay Beach – summer months*, except between the hours of 5.00am and 9.00am
  • Onekaka Estuary
  • Pakawau Beach (camp frontage) – summer months*
  • Parapara Inlet
  • Patons Rock Beach in front of the settlement – summer months*
  • Pohara Beach from the sign at the western end of the golf course to the mouth of the Motupipi Estuary
  • Pohara Beach from eastern camp boundary to Selwyn Street Reserve – summer months*
  • Pohara Beach Top 10 Holiday Park
  • Rototai to Waitapu Estuary foreshore (excluding Controlled Dog Exercise area adjacent to Rototai Recreation Reserve
  • Ruataniwha Inlet
  • Tata Beach – During the period of New Zealand Daylight Saving Time, and for the remainder of the year from one hour prior to sunrise until one hour after sunrise
  • Tukurua Beach (camp frontage) – summer months*
  • Waikato Inlet – including beach area to Ruataniwha Inlet

Motueka/Kina

  • Abel Tasman National Park Foreshore Reserves on Tonga Island, Adele Island and Fisherman Island.
  • Breaker Bay Beach
  • Fearons Bush Camping Ground
  • Kaiteriteri Beach
  • Little Kaiteriteri Beach – summer months*, except between the hours of 5.00am and 9.00am
  • Lower Moutere Recreation Reserve – except for Dog Obedience and Tracking classes
  • Memorial Reserve Corner Riwaka
  • Motueka Sandspit – south of a line drawn through the point NZ Map Grid 2512857.1 (easting) 6009560.9 (northing)
  • Otuwhero Estuary and Sandspit
  • Saltwater Baths – Motueka
  • Stephens Bay Beach – summer months*, except between the hours of 5.00am and 9.00am

Richmond/Mapua

  • Hope Recreation Reserve & Hall – except for Dog Events approved by Hall Committee
  • McKee Memorial Domain
  • Rabbit Island (including the beach)

Murchison

  • Riverview Motor Camp – Murchison

Definitions: * Summer months = 1 December to 1 March

Basic Rules For Walking Your Dog

Dog faeces must be removed immediately and hygienically disposed of. Doggie Doo bags are available free of charge from all Council Offices and in dispensers around the district.

Your dog must respond to voice commands, hand signals or other effective means of control, when off the leash.