Time zones and oceans won’t stop Tauranga greyhounds and their owners walking together this Sunday to promote dog rehoming to the community.

The Great Global Greyhound Walk on Sunday, September 28, at Robbins Park, is not just for greyhounds though, said Tauranga Greyhound as Pets volunteer and event organiser Lauren Kramer.

Sighthounds – which include lurchers, whippets, deerhounds, galgos, Italian greyhounds, Ibizan hounds, borzoi, wolfhounds, Afghan hounds, saluki – and more can come along too from 10.30am.

Kramer said the walk is part of global event to promote greyhound adoption worldwide.

“Pushing the word about adopting greyhounds,” is the aim, said Kramer, who recently organised a Pat & Chat at Décor Gardenworld on July 19.

The idea of that event was to raise the profile of GAP in Tauranga ahead of the upcoming ban on greyhound racing in New Zealand.

Last December, Racing Minister Winston Peters announced greyhound racing in NZ would be banned from July 31, 2026. However, Greyhound Racing NZ (GRNZ) applied for a judicial review of the decision which was denied by the High Court in Wellington last month.

If the racing ban proceeds, the number of greyhounds needing homes will increase “exponentially,” said Kramer.

Adopt a greyhound as cute as Maus. Photo / Brydie Thompson

“A lot of people came out, and we had a few families reach out to GAP after that [Pat & Chat] event to enquire about adoptions,” said Kramer, who will be walking her greyhound ‘Marcel’ this Sunday.

GAP national manager Lisa Philp said the event “brings the greyhound global community together”.

This year’s walk them is ‘love’, with owners encouraged to dress their dogs up for the occasion. Greyhounds and fellow furry friends will slink off at 10.45am for 40-60 minutes, or until they run out of steam.

In 2024, 13,383 sighthounds joined 511 walks across 42 countries, said the Great Global Greyhound Walk website.

“We want greyhounds to be seen up there with the labradors and the golden retrievers as a very good option for a family pet,” said Philp.

“They’re so gentle, loving, loyal and really low demand. They just want love and to be near you. I have four of them lying around me on the floor of my office, and they are very happy.”

Dog owners can find a Great Global Greyhound Walk near them at Find Your Local 2025 Walk! - Great Global Greyhound Walk