Dogs are to be allowed at Ngawi campsite in Wairarapa, despite dog control officers' advice. Photo: Local Democracy Reporting/ file photo
Despite concerns from dog control officers and councillors, dogs will be allowed a at popular South Wairarapa camping destination this summer.
A decision to allow dogs at Ngawi campsite until Easter was made at a South Wairarapa District Council (SWDC) meeting on Wednesday, with a report to be prepared at that stage.
The council had previously heard officials' advice that with only two full-time dog control staff and a large area to police, there was insufficient resources to properly manage issues that might arise at the remote campsite on Wairarapa's southern coast.
Ngawi is 136km from Wellington, 110km from Masterton and 63km from Martinborough.
Councillors Pip Maynard and Alistair Plimmer voiced concerns about the move.
Maynard noted Ngawi ratepayers had previously asked that dogs be disallowed from the campsite but were now asking the opposite.
"I think we really need to monitor what happens in that space to ensure we are doing the right thing," Maynard said.
Plimmer said children could be at risk of being bitten.
Children in the waves at Ngawi. Photo: Local Democracy Reporting/ file photo
"It is a particularly horrid time when a dog bites someone at campgrounds where families go," Plimmer said. "It is just a recipe for disaster.
"Everybody loves their dogs. I've got two dogs. But in a campground where there are lots of people and lots of little kids, you are now saying 'let's put dogs into that mix'. And that is just madness.
"Sooner or later, one of these little kids will get bitten, and it doesn't matter how big the dog is. I can tell you having been bitten by a small dog, it still hurts.
"If you vote for this, are you going to be the person who is going to stand in front of the mother and say 'oops, sorry'?" he asked.
Plimmer also referenced the dog control officers' concerns.
"Our enforcement officers are only working from 9 to 5. So we don't have any after-hours coverage on this at all. This is an isolated community. It's just madness what you are proposing here, for what benefit?"
Councillor Colin Olds said he took on board Plimmer's concerns, but asked to what extent the council should 'wrap people up in cotton wool', in relation to dogs.
"Do we ban dogs from the entire district?" he asked.
"There are some pretty irresponsible dog owners out there, I have no doubt about that at all."
After further discussion, the council agreed to amend the current regulations to allow dogs at Ngawi Campsite (known as Ngawi Reserve) as a trial until Easter.
The discussion and decision were part of SWDC's adoption of its dog control policy.
Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
