Horowhenua District Council is reminding dog owners that registrations for the 2026/27 year are now open, with renewal notices arriving in letterboxes and inboxes during the first week of July.
All dogs over three months old must be registered each year. Owners are encouraged to complete their registration by 31 July 2026 to avoid a late payment penalty.
This year, Council has introduced Pawmanent dog tags – a lifetime registration tag designed to stay with each dog for life. While registration still needs to be renewed annually, the new tags mean owners no longer need to replace tags every year, making the process simpler and reducing waste.
Mayor Bernie Wanden says registering your dog is an important responsibility for all owners.
“Dog registration helps us keep our community safe and ensures we can quickly reunite lost dogs with their owners,” he says.
“With the introduction of Pawmanent tags, we’ve made things easier for owners while also reducing unnecessary waste.”
Mayor Wanden says registration fees directly support a range of animal management services across the district.
“These fees help fund essential services like responding to complaints, providing education programmes, caring for animals at the pound, and rehoming dogs,” he says.
“It’s about making sure dog owners are contributing their fair share to services that benefit the whole community.”
Dog owners are also reminded to keep their contact details up to date so Council can get in touch quickly if their dog is found.
Renewing your dog’s registration is quick and easy online at horowhenua.govt.nz/pawsonline. By paying online, dog owners can skip the queues at Council offices and avoid heading out in the winter cold. Owners can also choose to receive future renewal notices by email, helping to reduce paper use.
A 50% late payment penalty applies to registrations not paid by 31 July 2026. Anyone who may have difficulty paying is encouraged to contact Council on 06 366 0999 or at [email protected] to discuss possible options.