New Zealand plans to ban greyhound racing over animal welfare concerns
GuardianDEC 2024
New Zealand to Ban Greyhound Racing
Above: At Forbury Park Raceway, St. Kilda, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, greyhounds are racing to the finish line on Jan. 24, 2012. Image copyright: Tim Clayton/Contributor/Corbis via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The persistent high injury rates and deaths demonstrate that greyhound racing is inherently dangerous and cruel, marking this ban as a monumental victory for animal rights that reflects growing public recognition that animal exploitation for entertainment is unacceptable.
Narrative B
The greyhound racing industry has made significant strides in animal welfare reforms, with injury rates below Australian averages and lower euthanasia rates than horse racing. This ban is an unnecessary devastation to families and businesses that have dedicated their lives to the sport.