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Dog Bite Injuries Hit Record High: 42 ACC Claims Per Day As Attacks Surge 20% Since 2020
New analysis reveals 15,243 dog bite claims in 2025
Dog bite injuries in New Zealand have reached record levels, with ACC processing 15,243 claims in 2025 - equivalent to 42 per day - according to new analysis of Department of Internal Affairs data by financial research website MoneyHub.
The figure represents a 20% increase from 2020 (12,677 claims) and continues an upward trend that has accelerated since the pandemic, despite total dog registrations declining over the same period.
"We have fewer dogs but more bites," said Chris Walsh, Founder of MoneyHub. "Dog registrations peaked at 605,000 in 2022 and have since fallen to 578,000, yet bite claims keep climbing. Something has fundamentally changed in how we're managing dogs in this country."
Key findings from the analysis:
- 15,243 ACC dog bite claims in 2025, up from 12,677 in 2020
- 9,162 dogs nationwide are classified as menacing; 573 as dangerous
- Auckland recorded 4,726 claims - nearly a third of the national total
- Far North District recorded 465 claims, disproportionately high for its population
"These are just the incidents serious enough to generate an ACC claim," said Walsh. "The actual number of dog bites is significantly higher. When you see reports of entire A&E waiting rooms filled with dog attack victims posted on social media sites, it's clear this is a public health issue that deserves more attention."
Regional analysis shows significant variation in bite rates. Auckland's 4,726 claims reflect its population size, but areas like the Far North District show elevated rates relative to population that warrant further investigation.
The 2020 dip in claims - when COVID-19 lockdowns kept people indoors - proved temporary. Claims have since surged past pre-pandemic levels, rising 14.9% between 2022 and 2024 alone.
The full analysis, including breed-by-breed breakdowns, regional comparisons, and ten-year trends, is available from MoneyHub’s guide New Zealand Dog Breeds - Most Popular Breeds, Dog Attacks and Total Dog Numbers 2025
Note:
Data Source: Department of Internal Affairs, National Dog Database (November 2025)
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