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Tēnā koe,

Thank you for contacting us. Your request has been logged under the Local
Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

We will respond to your request as soon as possible and in any case no
later than within 20 working days.  

You can also call us freephone 0800 932 463. Please quote Request No.
OIA220391 if you require any further information.

If you would like to notify us about anything further regarding this
matter, you can reply to this email.

Ngā mihi,

Whangarei District Council

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Tçnâ koe Ms Shayeb,

 

I refer to your request of 4 July 2022 for information on all actions
taken by WDC Animal Management in response to a series of incident reports
of roaming/barking dogs on Te Toiroa Road and Kiwi Bush Lane from February
2020 to July 2022.  Your request was referred to council’s Health and
Bylaws Department and Regulatory Services Contractor Armourguard for
consideration. Please find attached:

 

OIA220391 - Redacted

I note that some information has been withheld under section 7(2)(a) of
the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 to protect
the privacy of individuals (this does not include Whangarei District
Council Staff).

I hope this information is of some assistance in responding to your
request. If you believe we have not responded appropriately to your
request, you have the right by way of complaint, under section 27(3) of
the Act, to apply to the Ombudsman to seek an investigation and review of
the decision.

 

Regards

Reiner Mussle

Manager | Health and Bylaws

Whangarei District Council | Forum North | Private Bag 9023, Whangarei
0148 | [1]www.wdc.govt.nz

P 09 430 4200 | DDI 09 470 3104 | E [2][email address]

[3]Like us on Facebook

 

[4]Whangarei District Council logo.

 [5]Whangarei District Council are proud finalists in the 2021 NZ
Diversity Awards and Winner of the HRNZ Organisation Change & Development
award.

 

 

References

Visible links
1. Link to the Whangarei District Council's website.
http://www.wdc.govt.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. Link to the Whangarei District Council's Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/WhangareiDC/

Kia ora Nora,

 

Thank you for your email.

 

I can confirm that the dog owner in question has been issued two
infringements for a failure to control and confine her dogs, as well as a
written warning that any further infringements may result in
disqualification from owning a dog or dogs.

 

You refer to two incident reports CRM#AC223828 and CRM#AC210256 where you
received similar outcomes of the job, resulting in the officer failing to
contact you. Unfortunately, the officer in question no longer works for
Armourguard, the Whangarei District Councils Animal Management contractor
and therefore I am unable to confirm why the officer did not make contact
with you on these occasions. However, upon review of the incident
CRM#AC223828, I can see that the barking complaint was lodged on 2 July
2022 and was followed up by the officer on 5 July 2022. The officer’s
notes state that they made preliminary enquiries on Kiwi Bush Lane. This
tended to indicate that the dogs at 11 Kiwi Bush Lane are no more of an
issue in regard to barking as compared to other dogs residing in the area.
However, if excessive barking continues to be a concern, or recurs please
let me know, so that this can be investigated further. In relation to
incident CRM#AC223769 that you refer to, the outcome of this job resulted
in the officer issuing wandering notices to the dog owner in question.

 

I completely understand your concerns for our local kiwi population with
regard to roaming dogs. Although you have not been contacted by our
officers following the majority of your complaints, I can assure you that
every complaint submitted by you has been investigated by one of our
officers. Armourguard’s Animal Management team and the Whangarei District
Council take a very serious approach to the protection of our Kiwi, and
for this reason Council has placed a menacing classification on all dogs
at 11 Kiwi Bush Lane. Consequently, the classification imposes the
requirement that all dogs on this property must be muzzled whilst in any
public place under section 33A of the Dog Control Act. Furthermore, I can
confirm that Armourguard has advised DoC of the ongoing wandering issues
within Kiwi Bush Lane. Armourguard encouraged DoC to conduct their own
foot patrol of Kiwi Bush Lane and to speak with the locals, however we are
unaware of their plan of action, if any at all.

 

I have raised the above issues with Peter Banks, Manager of Animal
Management who assured me that he will reiterate the importance for our
officers to contact all complainants following any submitted complaint,
regardless of the outcome. Mr. Banks mentioned that Christine Crawford has
maintained regular communication with you, please feel free to stay in
touch with her, as she is happy to answer any questions you may have or
look into any issues you may have with further/ongoing complaints.

 

Council, however, wishes to apologize to you for the lack of communication
you have received from Council’s animal management and enforcement
contractor.

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to respond to my email.

 

Regards

Reiner Mussle

Manager | Health and Bylaws

Whangarei District Council | Forum North | Private Bag 9023, Whangarei
0148 | [1]www.wdc.govt.nz

P 09 430 4200 | DDI 09 470 3104 | E [2][email address]

[3]Like us on Facebook

 

[4]Whangarei District Council logo.

 [5]Whangarei District Council are proud finalists in the 2021 NZ
Diversity Awards and Winner of the HRNZ Organisation Change & Development
award.

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Nora Shayeb <[6][FOI #19816 email]>

Sent: Monday, 8 August 2022 12:20 PM

To: Reiner Mussle <[7][email address]>

Subject: Re: FW: OIA220391 - Response

 

 

EXTERNAL: This email originated from outside Whangarei District Council.
Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and
know the content is safe.

 

Dear Reiner Mussle,

 

many thanks for your reply. Due to internet issues I couldn't access the
files you have sent, until now.

 

Can you please clarify how many infringements have been issued to Meghan
Whimp, the schnauzer breeder?

 

I noticed that in 2 Dog Incident Reports the attending officer had tried
to contact me for a follow-up.

In report CRM#AC223828 it says he tried to call me a few times. I never
had a message on either the landline, nor my mobile.

In report CRM#AC210256 it says: "phone number provided is invalid", yet my
phone number is accurately recorded on the form.

I also have never been informed about the actions taken by WDC on incident
CRM3AC223769.

 

It has been my experience that the officers responding to the incidences,
have not informed me as to when they arrived at the location. This does
not help to assure me that WDC is taking the protection our local kiwi
population from roaming dogs serious.

 

Could you also please clarify if the issue of the roaming schnauzers have
been brought to the attention of  DOC?

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Nora Shayeb

 

 

 

References

Visible links
1. Link to the Whangarei District Council's website.
http://www.wdc.govt.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. Link to the Whangarei District Council's Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/WhangareiDC/
6. mailto:[FOI #19816 email]
7. mailto:[email address]

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