Tell Maxx: plastic tag relief may be coming

Council News

Life-long metal dog tags are under evaluation by South Wairarapa council staff, as an option to both save time and reduce plastic pollution by replacing the current annual coloured tags.

For Councillor Martin Bosley, the idea is “a solution looking for a problem,” particularly as the initial experiments in districts like Carterton found the metal used for the tags “is not that great.”

But for Mayor Martin Connelly the metal dog discs would mean savings in staff time _ not giving out a new tag to the 4,000 dog-owners every year _ and lower pollution impacts.

“The world does not need another 4,000 plastic dog tags each year in the rubbish tip,” he told the council meeting.

Concerns about the durability of the metal tags on offer, the ease for dog rangers of checking a metal versus coloured plastic tag on a mutt’s collar, and even the “noise” metal tags can generate, saw the council delay a decision.

SWDC staff have already talked to Carterton, Kapiti and Gisborne about the metal disc option.

Chief executive Janice Smith said they would “like a bit more time to talk to other councils.” Connelly agreed.

The vote to delay a decision to check the experience of other councils was unanimous. Other councils using tags-for-life are Christchurch, Wellington and Hurunui.

Plastic tags may be gone from mid-2025, but for one other issue: they don’t conform with the requirements of the current Dog Control Act.

ends