The dogs had been secured.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this stage we\u2019re unable to provide any further details or comment while a response and investigation is underway.\u201d<\/p>\n
Police were carrying out a scene examination and said there was no risk to the public in relation to the incident.<\/p>\n
A resident told RNZ there were complaints about dogs in the area made by multiple people but nothing had been done about the problem.<\/p>\n
They said the dogs had been at the property for about a year.<\/p>\n
In that time, they said they\u2019d complained to Kaipara District Council about the dogs at least four times.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been so many complaints about them in the last year \u2013 the council know and haven\u2019t done anything.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey run out on to the road all the time. I was really scared about that and somebody getting hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n
They believed what had happened could have been avoided.<\/p>\n
The resident also said the dogs from that property ran after cars, motorbikes and pushbikes when they came down the road.<\/p>\n
The area was part of the Kaihu Valley cycle trail and the resident said tourists were often the ones on bikes on the road.<\/p>\n
They said a few months ago they\u2019d heard of a couple who\u2019d had to turn around on the road because of the dogs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just don\u2019t know how they can promote it [cycle trail] knowing there\u2019s a dog problem down here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Checkpoint asked Kaipara District Council for a response to the resident\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson said the council \u201ccan\u2019t provide any further information or comment on this incident while an investigation is underway\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur staff are actively working with police now to understand the sequence of events and what occurred on the property today,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
Hato Hone St John confirmed an ambulance and helicopter were called to the scene at 11.22am but referred further queries to police.<\/p>\n
The incident comes amid growing calls for an overhaul of dog control laws.<\/p>\n
Local Government Minister Simon Watts said he was asking officials for urgent advice.<\/p>\n
Watts said people deserved to feel safe in their neighbourhoods and should not have to carry clubs or bats when they left their homes.<\/p>\n
He said the Department of Internal Affairs was working on the issue with local councils to improve dog control and new guidelines are expected in the second half of the year.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a Northlander whose relative was killed by dogs said today\u2019s incident showed people needed to take dog ownership more seriously.<\/p>\n
Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board member Roddy Hapati Pihema\u2019s aunt was killed by dogs in 2023.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is just unbelievable. There have been a lot of lives taken by dogs, it\u2019s concerning that this issue hasn\u2019t been prioritised as much as it should be. We still have dogs running around on the streets, we still have dogs running through recreation reserves,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis continues to be a really concerning space considering we\u2019re not actually learning from the people being mauled, the people who have been unfortunate to lose their lives. There\u2019s a lot of work that needs to be done,\u201d Pihema said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe majority of people do [understand the risk of dogs] but there\u2019s quite a large number out there that like to have the puppy but don\u2019t want the responsibility of the dog.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the council was doing what it could to tackle the issue, but there was little it could do if owners didn\u2019t take responsibility.<\/p>\n
A Whang\u0101rei woman who is trying to change animal ownership laws said she was heartbroken to learn of another fatal dog attack in her region.<\/p>\n
Tracy Clarke said: \u201cMy heart absolutely sunk and tears welled up because this has been going on now for far too long, too many people are losing their lives as a result of dog attacks.\u201d<\/p>\n
She had a petition before a select committee to strengthen dog ownership laws.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe current legislation is out of date and needs to be brought up to today\u2019s dog population and the difference in ownership,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The petition seeks substantial changes to the dog ownership legislation and council bylaws, in order to end the problem of roaming dogs in New Zealand.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re at crisis point as a nation and it needs to be sorted urgently.\u201d<\/p>\n