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Alarming increase in aggression from feral dogs behind Te Paki track closures in Far North
15 Apr, 2021 05:30 PM
3 minutes to read
Cape Maria van Diemen, west of Cape Reinga, is part of the area currently off-limits due to reports of aggressive feral dogs. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Cape Maria van Diemen, west of Cape Reinga, is part of the area currently off-limits due to reports of aggressive feral dogs. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Peter de Graaf is a reporter for the Northern Advocatepeter.degraaf@northernadvocate.co.nznorthernadvocat
An alarming increase in aggression by feral dogs prompted the Department of Conservation to close tracks at the country s northern tip.
Northland news in brief: Pump tracks for 2 Far North towns; and kiwi release postponed a day
9 Apr, 2021 05:00 PM
4 minutes to read
A pump track, which the FNDC is planning to replicate in Kaitaia and Ahipara, under construction in Whangārei. Photo / Supplied
A pump track, which the FNDC is planning to replicate in Kaitaia and Ahipara, under construction in Whangārei. Photo / Supplied
Northern Advocate
The Far North District Council is looking at building pump tracks at Ahipara s Korora Park and a suitable park in Kaitaia.
A pump track is a moulded tar-sealed circuit of rollers, banked turns and features designed to be ridden by pumping a bike, generating momentum by up-and-down body movements instead of pedalling or pushing. They were originally designed for mountain bike and BMX riders but are also used by skateboarders and scooters, and are accessible to wheelchairs.
A feral dog (file image).
Photo: Unsplash / Raychan
The Department of Conservation (DOC) has suspended public access to Twilight Beach Campground and Te Werahi Beach Track; Twilight Beach Track; Te Paki Stream Track; and Te Werahi Loop Track.
While it is unclear how dangerous the dogs are, DOC believes they could be threatening on more than one level.
DOC Kaitaia acting operations manager Abraham Witana said the animals may be disease carriers and could pose a risk to people and livestock. We re not too sure - obviously - how dangerous they are, but at the end of the day we don t know about their health checks.
Far North campground and tracks closed due to danger from feral dog packs
5 Apr, 2021 05:00 PM
3 minutes to read
The campground at Twilight Beach, near Cape Reinga, is usually idyllic but right now it s closed due to packs of roaming dogs. Photo / Peter de Graaf
The campground at Twilight Beach, near Cape Reinga, is usually idyllic but right now it s closed due to packs of roaming dogs. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Peter de Graaf is a reporter for the Northern Advocatepeter.degraaf@northernadvocate.co.nznorthernadvocat
Four walking tracks and a campsite have been closed in the Far North amid fears that packs of feral dogs could attack visitors.