Dog owners will not be able to walk their pets at a rural Auckland beach during breeding season of native shorebirds.
From October 1 until March 1, 2026, dogs will be prohibited at all times at Ōrere Beach and intertidal areas within Ōrere Point Beach Reserve car park and east of the Ōrere River mouth.
Auckland Council conservation adviser Maddie White said in a statement that the region was a hotspot for shorebirds, including the endangered New Zealand dotterel, Caspian tern, variable oystercatcher, white-fronted tern and South Island pied oystercatcher.
All are native to New Zealand and formally classified as threatened or at risk at the national level by the Department of Conservation, and at the regional level by council.
White said in the 2024/2025 breeding season, three pairs of northern New Zealand dotterels attempted to nest east of the Ōrere River mouth, with only one chick successfully fledging.
“Nesting birds and chicks are very vulnerable to disturbance and predation by mammals, including dogs until the chicks fledge at around six weeks old,” she said.
Reef heron (regionally critical) have also been observed foraging in the intertidal zone at low tide, she said.
“Reef heron are wary and will fly away when approached too closely. This means that they are particularly vulnerable to disturbance by people and dogs.”
According to council, breeding and roosting habitat for shorebirds is of very limited extent around Auckland, and much of it is under pressure from development and recreational activities – this includes dog walking.
Dotterel nests and chicks are easy to miss and can be accidentally crushed by walkers and disturbed by dogs.
White said prolonging the time that adult birds spend off the nest can cause egg temperature fluctuations, which may result in egg mortality, and increase the risk of predation.
“We know that dogs can also harass or prey on young birds, which are flightless for the first 6-7 weeks of life.
“Research shows that shorebirds perceive dogs (even on-leash) as a greater threat than just humans. This is why they need protection.”
Knowing how Aucklanders love and care for the natural environment and wildlife, she was asking all dog owners to follow signs and instructions at beaches, during breeding season.
“At-risk bird populations have the best chance for young birds to hatch and thrive if beach users limit their own access around nesting areas during the breeding season.”
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
