Dog Exercise AreasTe whakakorikori kurī

Room to roam

We understand walking the dog provides an important means of exercise for many owners and contributes to health and wellbeing generally. For many people, dogs form an integral part of family life and offer companionship to their owners.

As of 1 October, 2022, Napier City Council's Dog Control Policy and Bylaw specifies that:

You can walk your dog off-lead at the following designated dog exercise areas: 

• Dolbel Reserve, Taradale (please check the signs for the areas which are on-lead, as per the Dog Control Bylaw 2022)
• Park Island, Tamatea
• Karetoki Whare (Sturms Gully), Napier Hill
• Tamatea Road Reserve, Tamatea
• Prebensen Drive Reserve, Poraiti
• Cross Country Drain (south side), Napier South
• The Reserve running between Taradale and Kennedy Roads (beside Riverbend Road).
• The continuation of the Taradale/Kennedy Road greenbelt between Latham Street, Nash Street and Willowbank Avenue, and the continuation of this greenbelt to and including Te Awa Park, Nash Street Reserve, Lathan Street Reserve and Riverbend Road Reserve.
• The Plantation Reserve running from Henry Hill School to Taradale Road.
• The Drainage Reserve running around Westminster Avenue.
• Riverside Park behind the Pettigrew Green Arena.
• The area in Anderson Park on the northern side of the ponds and waterways bounded by York Avenue and Freyberg Avenue, including the strip of green belt from Taradale Road alongside Islington Place to Freyberg Avenue.
• Alexander Park from Taradale Road to Te Awa Park.
• The beach and foreshore, known as Beach Domain on the seaward side of State Highway 2 from the Aquarium southward to the City boundary.
• The beach and foreshore on the seaward side of the Esplanade and the Napier/Gisborne railway line, from the public toilets on The Esplanade foreshore northward to the City boundary during March to July only. During August to February, dogs must be exercised on leash.

Dogs are prohibited at the following areas:

• Watchman Road Reserve and Port Beach West, Hardinge Road
• Port Beach West
• All Napier City Council owned playgrounds
• All Napier City Council buildings, including public libraries, public swimming pools, Kennedy Park Resort, McLean Park, Nelson Park.
• Te Whanganui-a-Orotū (Ahuriri Estuary) to protect endangered bird life
• All Napier City Council sports parks, including; McLean Park, Nelson Park, Whitmore Park, Marewa Park, Taradale Park, Bledisloe Park, Maraenui Park, Park Island, Onekawa Park, Petane Domain, Tareha Recreation Reserve, Tareha Park, Park Island North, Tremain field, Bluewater Stadium, Hawke’s Bay Hockey.

Other than designated prohibited areas and dog exercise areas, all other public places are on-lead areas. 

Council's legal requirements:

• the exercise and recreational needs of dogs and their owners and
• the need to minimise danger, distress and nuisance to the community generally would be enhanced if areas specifically where dogs may be exercised at large were provided for dog owners. This would not only allow dog owners freedom areas but would signal to the public generally to expect the presence of dogs in recreational areas. The establishment of exercise areas convenient to most dog owners is desirable.

The map below shows you the off and on-lead areas in Napier, as well as the dogs prohibited areas.