Exercising your Dog

Overview

Horowhenua District Council provides plenty of places across the District where people can exercise their dogs.

This page contains a full list of where dogs can be exercised on and off leash, as well as areas where dogs are prohibited. These are set out in the Dog Control Bylaw 2025.

Areas Where Dogs are Banned

Listed below are areas where dogs are banned in the Horowhenua District.

Exceptions apply for:

• Police dogs working in the area, including search and rescue
• Disability assist dogs carrying out their role
• Other dogs that Council has specifically authorised for certain purposes

Dogs are banned in the following areas:

• The area within three (3) metres of any children's playground whether or not the area is designated as a Dog Exercise Area or a Dog On-leash Area.
• All playing fields (including bowling greens) within Council reserves and sportsgrounds and their car parks.
• Dogs are banned in most sports grounds. In some cases, dogs are allowed on parts of the grounds but only in the areas not including the playing fields.
• All public place areas when being used exclusively for a sporting event or other community use.

Levin Town (during shop trading hours)

This is the area of Levin Town that includes the Oxford Street shopping area, and covers all the public area including the road, footpath, access way, reserve, and shopping mall entrance between the Durham Street intersection with Oxford Street and Stanley Street intersection with Oxford Street.

Shannon Urban Area (during shop trading hours)

This covers the following areas:

• Plimmer Terrace - Ballance Street to Grey Street.
• Ballance Street - Plimmer Terrace to Venn Street.

Foxton Town (during shop trading hours)

This is the area of Foxton Town that includes Main Street shopping area, and covers all the public area including the road, footpath, access way, reserve shopping mall between the Ravensworth Street intersection with Main Street and the Union Street intersection with Main Street (including Flaxmill Reserve).

Reserves, Parks and Other Areas - at all times

Shannon

• Shannon Domain
• Hyde Park

Foxton

• Easton Park, including rugby grounds, swimming pool, and outdoor play area
• Victoria Park
• Stuart Donnelly Park

Foxton Beach

• Foxton Surf Beach (ramp to ramp) - during the period of Daylight Saving times

• Holben Parade Reserve (generally contained within Seabury Avenue, Nash Parade and Holben Parade)

• Bird Sanctuary area of Manawatu Estuary

Waitārere

• Waitārere Domain
• Waitārere Beach (between flagged/patrolled area) - during the period of Daylight Saving times.
• Rua Avenue Play Area
• Waitārere Beach Motor Camp (except for Caretaker and Camp tenants but restrained on a leash at all times)
• Holmwood Park

Levin

• Parsons Avenue Reserve
• Weraroa Reserve
• Donnelly Park Sportsgrounds
• Solway Park
• Playford Park
• Jubilee Park Play area
• Levin Domain
• Waiopehu Reserve 
• Muaupoko Park 

Manakau

• Manakau Domain

Exceptions

Exceptions to the provisions for Levin Town, Shannon Urban Area and Foxton Town are given to:

1. Police dogs present in the area in connection with Police work or Dog Search Team work.
2. Dogs present in the area in connection with their function as Disability Assist Dogs.
3. Dogs otherwise authorised for specified purposes.