New Zealand Green Party pushes for ban on greyhound betting

New Zealand will ban greyhound racing next year, but betting on overseas races will still be allowed.

New Zealand.- The Green Party is calling for a ban on betting on greyhound races in New Zealand, including on those held in Australia and offered through the TAB. The move comes as the country prepares to end domestic greyhound racing by July 31, 2026.

The government has said that betting on overseas racing falls outside the scope of New Zealand’s welfare rules. Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ) has called that hypocritical since it argues that dog injury rates are higher in Australia than in New Zealand.

Australian greyhound races make up most of TAB’s offerings in the vertical, with around 40,000 events per year compared to just 5,000 from New Zealand. Figures suggest Australian races generate about NZ$48m (US$27m) annually for the TAB, compared to NZ$5m (US$2.9m) from local races.

Green Party spokesperson Steve Abel said the situation means a ban on cruel local practices while allowing imports of the same. He says the party will continue to push for consistency by calling for the removal of all greyhound betting from TAB. Labour Party racing spokesperson Tangi Utikere has said the proposal is worth discussing and would aligns with New Zealand’s stance on animal welfare but that it’s not a current priority for the party.

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See also: Councillors in Newcastle, New South Wales, call for ban on greyhound racing

New Zealand will ban greyhound racing next year, but betting on overseas races will still be allowed. New Zealand.- The Green Party is calling for a ban on betting on…