Up to 150 greyhounds are have begun arriving in Australia after a greyhound racing ban came into effect in New Zealand.

New Zealand greyhound trainers have arranged charter flights to export about 150 of the dogs to Queensland so they can continue racing.

WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: Greyhounds put on charter flights from New Zealand to Australia after ban

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This comes after a nationwide greyhound racing ban came into effect in New Zealand at the beginning of the month.

The ban was announced in December 2024 after a chorus of animal welfare concerns in the country.

Footage filmed by animal rights advocacy group Grassroots Campaigns Aotearoa was captured over the weekend and shows dozens of animals in crates stacked one on top of the other at an airport in Christchurch.

Dogs can be heard howling and yelping in the background, as trainers place them inside the crates bound for Australia.

The greyhounds were seen in crates at Christchurch Airport before being flown to Queensland. Credit: Grassroots Campaigns Aotearoa

Animal welfare group Animals Australia shared the video on social media with a statement revealing the first flight arrived in Queensland on Thursday.

“Instead of finding them loving homes where they can relax and run free after commercial dog racing became illegal in Aotearoa, Greyhound Racing New Zealand is putting around 140 dogs on chartered flights to Australia to continue racing here,” they said.

The animals are being flown to Australia where greyhound racing still remains legal, with the exception of the ACT.

“While the industry charters flights to keep dogs racing as long as they can make a buck, it will ultimately fall to the already overwhelmed volunteers and charities in Australia to pick up the pieces and find these dogs loving homes,” they said.

“After everything they have endured, these dogs deserve safety. They deserve peace — not to be dispatched to another country to keep running for their lives.”

Trainers were seen placing greyhounds in crates at Christchurch Airport. Credit: Grassroots Campaigns Aotearoa

Animals Australia alleged Queensland had already seen 26 racing-related greyhound deaths so far this year.

Greyhound rehoming body says move ‘lawful’

A Spokesperson from the New Zealand’s Greyhound Transition Agency (GTA) told 7NEWS the trainers sending their dogs to Australia have acted within the law.

“The export of eligible greyhounds has remained lawful following the Government’s decision to close the New Zealand commercial greyhound racing industry and has therefore always been a possibility.”

GTA said Greyhound Racing New Zealand will be providing a list of the greyhounds travelling to Australia on charter flights.

“We will cross-check this list against our ownership records and share relevant information with GRNZ and Australian greyhound,” TGA said

The agency said it will need to help rehome approximately 1300 to 1400 ex-racing industry greyhounds, according to their current estimate.

“While racing has finished in New Zealand, owners still have time to decide whether to transfer ownership of their commercial racing industry dogs to the Greyhound Transition Agency,” it said.

“This allows owners time to consider their options, given this may be a significant change.

“Any greyhound transferred to the Transition Agency will be deregistered from racing and therefore cannot race outside of New Zealand. “

Animal rescue agency ‘deeply concerned’ for greyhounds

Global animal rescue service SPCA told 7NEWS it was “deeply concerned” greyhounds are being transported from New Zealand to Queensland so they can continue racing “despite New Zealand having ended greyhound racing on animal welfare grounds on 1 August 2026”.

“The NZ Government’s decision to ban greyhound racing reflected persistent and systemic welfare concerns within the industry,” Dr Alison Vaughan, SPCA Senior Scientific Officer, said.

“The clear intention was for greyhounds to leave racing and be rehomed as companion animals, not exported offshore to continue racing elsewhere.”

New Zealand’s Greyhound Transition Agency said trainers have not broken the law by transporting racing dogs to Queensland. Credit: AAP

Vaughan said greyhound racing carries an “inherent risk of serious injury and death” and that exporting these dogs does not remove those welfare risks but “simply moves them across the Tasman”.

“It also adds further pressure to greyhound rehoming systems in Australia, as surviving dogs will ultimately need homes once their racing careers end,” she said.

“New Zealand has decided these risks are no longer acceptable. The welfare problem does not disappear when a dog crosses the border and neither does the responsibility to ensure these dogs have safe futures beyond racing.”

The New Zealand Herald has reported the dogs are destined for Toowoomba, west of Brisbane. 

Queensland Racing Integrity Commission monitoring move

Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) told 7NEWS it is “aware” of the arrival of greyhounds from New Zealand, however had “no role” in their transportation.

“QRIC assesses all registration and licensing applications in accordance with the relevant Rules of Racing and Licensing Standards,” the commission said.

“As Queensland’s independent racing integrity regulator, QRIC remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare, integrity and public confidence in the racing industry. QRIC will continue to monitor compliance and take appropriate regulatory action where necessary.”