At least two chartered flights are transporting approximately 150 greyhounds from New Zealand to Australia’s eastern states as a nationwide ban on greyhound racing takes effect. Several trainers are responding to the prohibition by relocating their animals to continue operating in the sport, which remains legal across most of Australia.
New Zealand’s ban was initially announced in December 2024 and formally legislated in April. The restriction is expected to result in approximately 1,400 greyhounds requiring rehoming. According to Greyhound Racing New Zealand’s chief executive Edward Rennell, between six and 10 trainers have expressed interest in relocating to Australia, with the organization planning to cover flight costs while owners and trainers bear additional expenses. The relocation details are expected to be finalized within two weeks.
New Zealand’s Racing Minister Winston Peters characterized the relocation efforts as “the last gasp actions of a dying industry,” noting that the sport had “lost its social licence” following multiple reviews that documented persistently high injury and death rates among racing dogs. Peters’s office stated that the vast majority of the 1,300 to 1,400 greyhounds would be rehomed domestically over the coming years, describing the exports as a final one-off occurrence rather than an ongoing trend. The Greyhound Racing New Zealand leadership disputed the injury and death rate findings.
Australia’s greyhound racing industry is substantially larger than New Zealand’s, with Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria’s combined operations valued at nearly A$2 billion in 2022-23, compared to New Zealand’s A$147 million. Queensland racing authorities have been notified of the incoming animals and relocation plans, though officials in New South Wales and Victoria indicated they were unaware of specific arrangements within their jurisdictions.
The relocation follows earlier exports, with 80 greyhounds documented as having been transported to Queensland via chartered flight in April 2025. Animal welfare advocates have raised concerns about the arrangement, with critics pointing to existing challenges in rehoming retired racing greyhounds in Australia and questioning regulatory oversight of the exports.
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