Responsible Pet Management

Protecting Our Precious Ecosystems And Your Pets

Pets are cherished members of our families—but on Aotea / Great Barrier Island, they can also have a big impact on our unique native wildlife. This page offers practical tips and guidance to help you enjoy pet ownership while reducing harm to ground‑nesting birds, lizards, and other taonga species. By managing cats, dogs and other companion animals responsibly, we can all contribute to a safer, healthier environment for both our pets and the island’s precious ecosystems.

Cats

Protect native birds and lizards by managing your cat responsibly.

- Keep your cat indoors at night—native wildlife are most vulnerable at dawn and dusk.
- Feed your cat a high-quality diet to reduce hunting instincts.
- Equip your cat with a collar and bell to alert birds.
- Provide moving toys to keep your cat stimulated and reduce boredom.
- Never abandon your cat.
- If you see a feral cat or signs of one, please contact the local council at 09 402 90258.

Close-up of a black and white cat with green eyes looking outside a window with green plant in the foreground.

Own a cat?

Learn how you can keep your cat and our taonga species safe.

Information for Tourists

Did you know…

While not prohibited, tourists are strongly encouraged not to bring cats to the island due to conservation efforts focused on eradicating feral cats. Cats can pose a threat to the island’s unique and vulnerable wildlife. If you do bring your cat, it’s crucial to manage them responsibly. If you do decide to bring your cat to the island, you must first ensure your cat is microchipped and registered in the New Zealand Companion Animal Register.

Reasons to consider leaving your cat at home

The island has ongoing projects to eliminate feral cats, and bringing a domestic cat can complicate these efforts.
Cats can prey on rare and endangered species, some of which are already vulnerable on the island.
The island environment can be challenging for cats, and there's a risk of them going missing or being harmed.

If you choose to bring your cat

Ensure your cat is microchipped, desexed, and registered in the New Zealand Companion Animal Register.
Keep your cat indoors, especially at night, as they are more vulnerable to predation and can cause harm to native wildlife at dawn and dusk.
Provide your cat with indoor enrichment to keep them happy and stimulated.
If your cat is allowed to roam, ensure they wear a brightly coloured collar for easy identification.

For more guidance:

Dogs

Protect coastal and ground-nesting birds by managing your dog responsibly.

- Know the designated dog exercise areas (see below) and follow local rules.
- Discourage your dog from chasing birds on beaches, reserves, parks, or tracks.
- Join a puppy or dog training group to learn effective control techniques.
- Ensure your dog wears a collar with identification tags.
- Provide appropriate shelter and a balanced diet.
- Keep your dog on a leash in coastal areas where native birds are nesting.
- Auckland Council and DOC offer free Bird Aversion Training courses for dogs. Check out our events calendar. Contact them for more information (details below).
If you see a wandering dog or inappropriate behavior (such as chasing protected shorebirds), please contact:
- Auckland Council Aotea Great Barrier Service Centre: 09 4290 258
- DOC: 09 4290 044

For more guidance:

Where can I walk my dog?

A tan dog with white paws and chest lying on sandy beach with blue ocean and partly cloudy sky in the background.

Other Pets - animals you cannot bring to Aotea

Aotea prohibits all high‑risk pest reptiles, turtles, invasive freshwater fish, and pest parrots/birds from entering, to protect the island’s sensitive ecosystems.

These pests can reach high population numbers in the wild. They prey on native species and modify ecosystems.

Details from the “Exclusion Pest Animals” list in Section 7.2.1 of the RPMP for Aotea Great Barrier Island

These animals below are not allowed to be moved, bred, released, or brought to Aotea under any circumstances:

- Bearded dragons (Pogona barbata)
- Blue‑tongued skinks (Tiliqua scincoides, T. nigrolutea)
- Eastern water dragons (Intellagama lesueurii)
- Red‑eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans & subspecies)
- Snake‑neck turtles (Chelodina longicollis)

Brown bullhead catfish (Ameiurus nebulosus)
- Gambusia / mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis)
- Pest goldfish (any not in secure containment) (Carassius auratus)
- Koi carp (Cyprinus carpio)
- Perch (Perca fluviatilis)
- Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus)
- Tench (Tinca tinca)

- Canadian goose (Branta canadensis)
- Eastern rosella (Platycercus eximius)
- Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus)
- Indian ring‑necked parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
- Monk parakeet / Quaker parrot (Myiopsitta monachus)
- Rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus)
- Sulphur‑crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)

·  Leave your pets at home.
·  Please do not bring freshwater fish (including goldfish) or turtles to Aotea.
·  If you already own a pet turtle or goldfish on Aotea, ensure it is securely contained to avoid accidental escapes and never empty an aquarium into a waterway.
·  If you are no longer able to look after your pet, find someone who is prepared to give it a forever home.
Releasing your freshwater pets into the wild will put our native species at risk.