People from all over the country who work and live with greyhounds will be heard for the first time on legislation that extinguishes their jobs, dismantles their livelihoods, destroys their lifetime investments, and strips their dogs of important welfare protections.

Select Committee hearings on the Racing Industry (Closure of Greyhound Racing Industry) Amendment Bill begin tomorrow morning. If passed, it will take effect 1 August 2026. The people it directly affects have never been consulted.

Those 1,054 people lose their employment with no compensation and no plan for the future of greyhounds across regional New Zealand requiring rehoming.

“This Bill forcibly closes their clubs and associations, removes their assets and destroys their jobs and dogs,” says Greyhound Racing New Zealand Chief Executive, Edward Rennell.

“Behind those numbers are workers, families, animals and communities who have been ignored.”

The Bill does not ban greyhound racing – amateurs and hobbyists can still race greyhounds.

Instead, it bans commercial wagering on New Zealand greyhound racing while leaving gambling on overseas greyhound racing untouched. More than 48,000 overseas greyhound races a year will continue to be broadcast and bet on in New Zealand through TAB NZ’s monopoly, with proceeds ultimately funding domestic horse racing. Local betting on Australian races alone turns over approximately $238 million dollars annually.

“Is it acceptable that New Zealand supports, promotes, and profits from overseas greyhound racing,” asks Rennell, but destroys it here?”

The Bill closes the industry down by dissolving the legal entities that govern and support the sport domestically — including its animal welfare, integrity, and safety systems.

Among those appearing before the Primary Production Committee are greyhound trainers, veterinarians, breed experts, and business owners who say the closure insults fair and proper process, and subjects their healthy dogs to the crisis of the pet population.

Submissions paint a stark picture of the damage this decision is doing to people’s lives.

“These dogs are my life.

“Their needs don’t just disappear because Parliament passes a bill.”

Enter the lure driver – has the clearest view of the greyhounds as they race. He describes a system where any falls are immediately responded to, veterinary checks are routine, and dogs are stood down as a precaution.

“I see everything. Any incident, whatsoever, is assessed and acted on straight away,” he says.

“These dogs are in pristine condition – absolute pride and joy.”

A regional greyhound rehoming operator who will be forced to close her business, if the Bill proceeds, employs staff who have mortgages and young families. Their jobs will disappear.

“Not least of their worries is how they’ll put food on the table,” she says.

“New job opportunities in our part of the country are unicorns — a nice idea, but they don’t exist,”

Veterans of the sport worry for the young people involved who now face losing not just their job but their passion. They say the decision lacks fairness, principle and a credible plan.

“I know families, partnerships, and friendships that have ripped apart because of what Winston Peters is doing.”

The material risks identified in the policy documents fore-grounding the legislation remain unaddressed, despite the stress, uncertainty, and public vilification many workers experience. They say the public comments by the Minister for Racing referring to them as “sinners” have deepened their distress.

“It’s a betrayal.

“We follow every rule and the system is walking away from us without a conversation.”

The people affected by the Bill are appealing to all Members of Parliament to abandon it. The second day of hearings is scheduled for Monday 2 February.

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