As winter settles in and many of us spend more time indoors with our companion animals, we're pleased to bring you the latest news, research, and stories from across the sector.
In this edition, you'll find our emergency management panel discussion on pets and disasters, some profiles of our own 'furry colleagues', practical welfare advice, and more.
Pets and Emergencies in NZ
What happens to animals during emergencies - and are we truly prepared to protect them?
From floods and fires to evacuations and disaster response, animals are deeply affected during emergencies. But the realities of planning for them are often far more complex than many people realise. In this important panel discussion, experts from emergency management, animal welfare and frontline rescue explore:
🚨 Why animals must be included in emergency planning
⚖️ How laws and emergency powers impact animals during disasters
🏠 The realities shelters and responders face on the ground
🐶 What these decisions mean for pets and their families.
Our panel includes:
Dr Hayley Squance (internationally recognised emergency management expert)
Pip Lamb (SPCA)
Gina Kemp (Ministry for Primary Industries)
Carolyn Press McKenzie (HUHA)
Facilitated by our CANZ CEO, Pete Monk, this is a thoughtful and important long-form conversation for anyone who cares about animals, communities and disaster preparedness in Aotearoa New Zealand.
You can watch the discussion or simply plug in your headphones and enjoy it like a podcast while walking, driving or doing jobs around the house. 🎧
Thank you to everyone who took part in our National Pet Day competition to ensure details are up to date on the NZ Companion Animal Register - more than 20,000 of you logged in to do this! If your pet ever goes missing, their microchip can help reunite you - but only if your contact details are correct. Without up-to-date information, you may not be able to be contacted. It’s a small action that can make a huge difference in bringing lost pets home.
We announced winners on our socials a few weeks back - you can go and check them out here:
Thank you again to Animates for supporting this important initiative.🐾
Recent bylaw updates
From 1 June 2026, new cat management requirements came into force in both Nelson City and Tasman District following a transition period for cat guardians. In Nelson City, cats over four months of age must now be microchipped, registered with NZCAR, and desexed, while in Tasman District the same requirements apply to cats over six months of age.
These measures are designed to support responsible cat guardianship, improve welfare outcomes, and help reunite lost cats with their families more effectively.
For many of us, our companion animals aren’t just part of the family - they’re also our work buddies! Recently, we introduced some of the “furred” companions behind the scenes at Companion Animals New Zealand and sharing their very important workplace roles and key strengths. From barking at the wind, to wandering across keyboards mid-email, supervising Zoom meetings, demanding snack breaks, and providing emotional support during busy days… our pets are clearly hard at work.
Four of our colleagues are profiled below - and two not pictured are Annie and Molly. You can read more about their strengths and areas for improvement on their facebook posts.
Did you take part in our cat interaction study last year? If so, check out the newly published study which outlines that even experienced cat guardians struggle to tell whether interactions are aggressive based on facial cues alone.
In this video, accredited professionals Dr Erin Jones and Dr Lavinia Tan share practical, science-based insights to help you better read dog behaviour and respond appropriately.
Could your dog be bored? Discover why mental stimulation, choice, and positive experiences are just as important as food, exercise, and healthcare for a good life.
The next Companion Animals NZ Conference will take place in Wellington, on 2 March 2027. With the theme Turning the Tide, we'll be bringing together people from across the companion animal sector to explore the future of animal welfare in Aotearoa and how we can create lasting positive change for animals, communities, and the people who care for them.
Whether you're a veterinary professional, researcher, shelter or rescue worker, policymaker, advocate, or simply passionate about animal welfare, we'd love to have you join us in Wellington.
🎟️ Tickets and speaker announcements are still to come, but now is the time to lock the date into your calendar if you'd like to attend.
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