Mihiata Te Rore, 62, was killed after being attacked by dogs at a property in Kaihu, Northland, on Tuesday. The incident has sparked renewed calls for action regarding dangerous dogs in the region.
Growing Concerns Over Dog Attacks
Te Rore is the third person to die from dog attacks in Northland in the last four years. The dogs involved in Tuesday’s attack lived at the property where the incident occurred, according to police.
Prior to the fatal attack, Animal Control officers visited the property on multiple occasions, including the day before, in an attempt to uplift the dogs, but were unsuccessful in doing so. Staff attempted to contact the owner, reaching out to family and iwi liaison.
Previous Warnings Ignored
A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, reported that authorities had been warned about issues with the dogs in the past year. The resident stated that the four dogs had previously attacked his own dog approximately six months ago, “pack attacking” it on his property. He expressed fear for his safety, noting the difficulty of simply checking his mailbox without concern for the dogs.
The Kaipara District Council reported a more than doubling in the number of dogs impounded over the four years from 2021 to 2025. In the period from July 2022 to July 2025, there were 174 call-outs for dog attacks, with only one prosecution resulting from those incidents.
Calls for Action and Legislative Review
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described Te Rore’s death as unacceptable and stated he expects the Kaipara District Council to take action against dangerous dogs within seven days. Auckland Council’s Animal Management department reported that its push for government reform of dog control laws had been unsuccessful, with the government stating as recently as Tuesday that it was not considering changes to the Dog Control Act.
Police are appealing to the Kaihu community for information regarding any previous issues with roaming dogs. The three dogs involved in the attack have been secured and impounded and will be destroyed once the police investigation is complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on Tuesday in Kaihu?
Mihiata Te Rore was attacked and killed by three dogs at a property in Kaihu. Police are investigating.
How many complaints were made about the dogs before the attack?
The Kaipara District Council received four complaints about the dogs in November, December, and last week, responding to each request on the same day.
What is the Prime Minister’s response to the incident?
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described Te Rore’s death as unacceptable and expects the Kaipara District Council to take action against dangerous dogs within seven days.
As communities grapple with the aftermath of this tragedy, questions remain about the balance between responsible dog ownership, effective enforcement of regulations, and the safety of the public.
