Stock wandering on roads have caused fatal accidents in our district. Waikato District Council responds to reports of stock wandering on district roads 24 hours a day. Transit NZ should be contacted for any incidents of stock wandering on state highways.
The Animal Control Unit administers stock control in the Waikato district, and is legislated by the Impounding Act 1955. This Act helps to:
- Protect road users from wandering stock
- Set rules for the management of stock pounds and the impounding of wandering and trespassing stock
- Protects the interests of property owners
The Council’s Monitoring and Bylaws team administers the Waikato District Council Stock Movement Bylaw 2006.
How is stock legally defined?
Stock is defined in the Impounding Act 1955 as any
- Horse
- Cattle
- Deer
- Ass
- Mule
- Sheep
- Pig or goat
of any description.
If your stock stray onto private property you will be liable:
- For any damage caused by the stock
- Trespass and sustenance costs claimed by the owner of the property
- Any costs that result from your stock being impounded incurred by the Council including:
Transportation to the stock pound
Advertising
Impounding fees
Animal control officers’ time and mileage
Grazing costs
Necessary vet treatment etc
If your stock stray onto a roadway you will be liable:
- For any damages in the event of an accident, for which you could have criminal charges laid against you
- Plus any of the costs mentioned above
If any stock stray onto your property:
- If you know the owner of the stock, you should detain the stock on your land, and notify the owner within 24 hours. You can do this personally or by delivering a written notice detailing what stock have trespassed and details of any trespass rates you wish to claim. In some situations the owner of the land trespassed upon can claim damages from the owner of the stock instead of trespass rates. Refer to the Impounding Act 1955 or Council staff for more information
- You must feed and give all necessary care and attention to the stock during the time it is on your property
- If the stock are not claimed within 48 hours or the owner of the stock is not known to you, you must make arrangements to deliver the stock to the Council’s stock pound and advise Animal Control Staff of these arrangements
- Council will then advertise the stock and if claimed recover all Council and landowner costs.
- If stock are unclaimed from Council they are sold by public auction and any monies received go towards Council and landowner costs first, with any residual being available for the stock owner for 12 months following the sale. Often proceeds from the sale do not cover costs.