10. Duty of territorial authorities to adopt policy on dogs---(1)
 Every territorial authority shall, before the 31st day of March 1997,
 adopt, in accordance with the special consultative procedure prescribed
 by section 716A of the Local Government Act 1974, a policy in respect of
 dogs in the district of the territorial authority.

   (2) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, the
 territorial authority shall, under section 716A (1) (b) of the Local
 Government Act 1974, give specific notice of the draft policy to the
 owner of every registered dog within the district of the territorial
 authority.

   (3) Every policy adopted under this section---
   (a) Shall specify the nature and application of any bylaws made or to
         be made under section 20 of this Act; and
   (b) Shall identify any public places in which dogs are to be
         prohibited, either generally or at specified times, pursuant to
         a bylaw made under section 20 (1) (a) of this Act; and
   (c) Shall identify---
           (i) Any particular public places; and
           (ii) Any areas or parts of the district,---
          in which dogs (other than working dogs) in public places are to
         be required by a bylaw made under section 20 (1) (b) of this Act
         to be controlled on a leash; and
   (d) Shall identify those areas or parts of the district in respect of
         which no public places or areas are to be identified under
         paragraph (b) or paragraph (c) of this subsection; and
   (e) Shall identify any places within areas or parts of the district
         specified in paragraph (c) (ii) of this subsection that are to
         be designated by a bylaw under section 20 (1) (d) of this Act as
         dog exercise areas in which dogs may be exercised at large; and
   (f) Shall include such other details of the policy as the territorial
         authority thinks fit including, but not limited to, details of
         the policy in relation to---
           (i) Fees or proposed fees; and
           (ii) Owner education programmes; and
           (iii) Dog obedience courses; and
           (iv) The classification of owners; and
           (v) The disqualification of owners; and
           (vi) The issuing of infringement notices.

   (4) In adopting a policy under this section, the territorial authority
 shall have regard to---
   (a) The exercise and recreational needs of dogs and their owners; and
   (b) The need to minimise danger, distress, and nuisance to the
         community generally.

   (5) Every statement or publication of a policy adopted under this
 section---
   (a) Shall identify any land within the district that is included in---
           (i) A controlled dog area or open dog area under section 26ZS
         of the Conservation Act 1987; or
           (ii) A national park constituted under the National Parks Act
         1980; and
   (b) May contain such other information and advice in relation to dogs
         as the territorial authority thinks fit.

   (6) The territorial authority shall give effect to the policy adopted
 under this section---
   (a) By making the necessary bylaws, which shall come into force not
         later than the 1st day of July 1997; and
   (b) By repealing, before the 1st day of July 1997, any bylaws that are
         inconsistent with the policy.

   (7) No territorial authority shall make any bylaw that is inconsistent
 with the policy under this section that, at the time of the making of
 the bylaw, is in force in its district.

   (8) The territorial authority may, at any time, adopt, in accordance
 with the special consultative procedure, an amended policy under this
 section and this section shall apply, with the necessary modifications,
 to the adoption of that amended policy.

   (9) This section shall come into force on the day on which this Act
 receives the Royal assent.