By the Explore Whangārei news desk · Published Thursday 12 November 2026
Whangārei District Council will pay half the cost, up to $10,000, for Northland Regional Council to scope the unowned cattle that are increasingly straying onto Whangārei Heads Road.
- Where
- Waikaraka, along Whangārei Heads Road
- Council contribution
- 50 per cent of the agreed cost, up to $10,000
- What to do
- Drive as if cattle could be on the road, and report any incident to police
Councillors made the decision at their meeting on Wednesday 4 November. The cattle belong to no one and range over a number of properties and difficult country, and the council says there is no simple fix. Where they come out onto the road, traffic is busy and houses are nearby.
The council has not given a number for the cattle. Getting a better understanding of the population is the point of the scoping work the regional council is being asked to lead.
What has been tried so far
Warning signs are up on the affected section of road, and the council says it is looking at other ways to make drivers more aware. It has been working with the affected landowners, Northland Regional Council, police, the Ministry for Primary Industries and specialist advisers.
In September the council met affected landowners to talk through getting onto their land, legal powers, safety and how the herd might be managed. Some of those landowners have since said yes to access, some with conditions attached, and the council is still talking with the rest.
What happens next
Once the scoping is done, the regional council is being asked to consider whether the Waikaraka cattle, or wild cattle more generally, should be managed under the Northland Regional Pest Management Plan. It is expected to look at its position at an upcoming workshop; no date has been given. Any hands-on response would have to come back to the district council for approval, according to the council’s update.
If you drive the Heads road
The warning signs alert drivers but cannot physically keep the herd away, so the council’s advice is to drive as though cattle could be on the road and be ready to stop.
If you are involved in an incident, report it to police: the reports help build a record of the problem. Heading out that way? Our Whangārei Heads guide covers the bays and walks along the road.
- Whangarei District Council: Council seeks collaborative approach to Waikaraka wild cattle, released 6 November 2026
Explore Whangārei news desk: news@explorewhangarei.co.nz. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we’ll correct it.
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