National fails its own fairness test
Greyhound Racing New Zealand says National’s legislation banning commercial greyhound racing fails standards of fairness and rigour set by the Party during and after the 2023 election campaign.
Christopher Luxon claimed his Government would make “detailed, constructive and intellectually rigorous solutions”, and govern for a nation that “celebrates fairness”. Those commitments were echoed by his fellow National MPs.
However, political commentators and the industry say the draft legislation currently before Parliament to end commercial greyhound racing contradicts those commitments. Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ) CEO Edward Rennell is challenging National MPs, as they gather for their caucus retreat, to try and reconcile their values with their policies. He says the proposed ban is a politically motivated decision that lacks both just cause and an evidential foundation.
“It’s a major betrayal by National of its pledge to govern with fairness and evidence. “The Bill doesn’t meet long-established norms of evidence based policy making, it fails the welfare of greyhounds, and it unjustly dismantles a regulated closely-monitored industry.”
Under the draft legislation, greyhound racing will not be banned, only wagering on New Zealand greyhound races will be banned. Amateur greyhound racing is allowed but without regulations and protections.
The Bill also permits the continued importation of overseas greyhound races for betting and broadcast - providing millions-of-dollars of revenue the Minister for Racing says will be used to support New Zealand’s horse racing industry.
Rennell says the legislation is neither intellectually rigorous nor fair. He says there is no evidence that greyhound racing failed to meet government-mandated welfare standards, yet participants face unemployment and uncompensated losses of millions of dollars in assets.
“How is it fair to abolish jobs and provide no compensation to those affected? “How is it fair to redirect revenue generated from greyhound racing to horse racing? “This is a Government whose words don’t match its actions - National says it values animal welfare yet they’re bringing back live exports by sea - it’s hard to know what they stand for.”
Rennell says the Government will never be able to produce evidence to justify the ban but that if it is to proceed, significant amendments are required to reduce the harm and injustice the legislation imposes.
“At a minimum, the Bill must prioritise the welfare of greyhounds, allow rehoming to be managed by experts over a longer time-frame, retain GRNZ and affiliated clubs as legal entities, and define fair and targeted compensation and support for all affected workers and animals.”
GRNZ welcomes appearing before the Primary Production Select Committee, its first opportunity to be consulted on a ban that will rip $159m and 1,054 jobs from the economy unjustly.
The Bill is at select committee for public feedback with a report due by 13 March 2026. The ban on commercial greyhound racing would take effect from August 2026. ENDS
For interviews please contact Edward Rennell:
