New Zealand has become the first country in the world to ban greyhound racing nationwide, with parliament passing legislation that will shut down the industry in August, RNZ reports.

The bill passed with overwhelming cross-party support, marking the end of an industry that has operated in New Zealand for more than a century but has been plagued by animal welfare scandals and declining public support.

Racing Minister Winston Peters, who introduced the legislation, called it "the right decision for New Zealand." Coming from Peters, who's not exactly known for progressive animal rights positions, that tells you how indefensible the industry had become.

The ban follows years of damning revelations about the treatment of greyhounds. A 2021 investigation found that hundreds of dogs were being killed each year - euthanized when they were no longer profitable, injured, or simply deemed too slow. The industry's own data showed that nearly 3,000 greyhounds died or disappeared over a five-year period.

Animal welfare groups have been pushing for the ban for years, documenting cases of dogs living in squalid conditions, being fed substandard diets, and suffering injuries during races. The industry's response was consistently inadequate - promises of reform that never materialized, welfare standards that weren't enforced.

New Zealand now leads the world on this issue. Australia still has a thriving greyhound racing industry, though several states have imposed stricter regulations following their own welfare scandals. The industry there generates billions in gambling revenue, making reform politically difficult.

The New Zealand ban will take effect in August 2026, giving the industry six months to wind down operations. About 2,800 greyhounds currently registered for racing will need to be rehomed, and the government has allocated $16 million to support the transition - including rehoming programs and financial assistance for trainers leaving the industry.