Our charter

 

The Dogs of Madills (DOMs) committee supports a big-picture strategy. This means we are working towards long term solutions to keep Madills Farm Recreational Reserve (known as Madills Farm) in Kohimarama off-leash for dogs now and also in the future. 

To achieve this we are focused on building positive relationships with users of the park and elected members. And, we are proactive in ensuring the park runs smoothly for all those using it. 

Our overarching goal is to be a model park for the community of Auckland by demonstrating that dogs can be off-leash successfully alongside their human friends. 

We can't afford to be complacent as the off-leash rules for Madills Farm are revised by the Ōrākei Local Board approximately every 2-5 years. Please support our initiatives, as everyone needs to do their part to ensure our Madills Farm ecosystem continues to thrive and dogs remain off-leash. 

Yours pawfully,

DOMs

Purpose

Our general purpose is to maintain and support a big-picture strategy. This means we are working towards long term solutions to preserve the future of Madills Farm as an off-leash, multi-purpose shared community asset.

The specific purpose of the establishment committee is to set the short-term agenda to preserve the future of Madills Farm as an off-leash haven for our dogs, while mindful and respectful of the needs of other users, specifically the Eastern Suburbs Football Association, other sports users, non-dog owning community residents, the Ōrākei Local Board and other stakeholders. 

The prevailing approach will be cooperative, consensual and “whole of community” focused.

 

Objectives

Long term

  • Be a structured conduit between dog owners and Council in the Ōrākei ward, starting with Madills Farm
  • Implement initiatives that help dog owners to understand and comply with the rules and etiquette of dog ownership
  • Support dog management initiatives to ensure community safety
  • Promote the health benefits of dog ownership and the values that align dog ownership with holistic health
  • Help preserve the natural character of Madills Farm as a sustainable community asset
  • Work with Elected Members to ensure future review processes are open, transparent and efficient

Short term

  • Build a constructive working relationship with ESAFC (Eastern Suburbs Association Football Club) to ensure Madills Farm is clean and safe for everyone
  • Streamline our communications processes to reach all interested dog owners and stakeholders with positive, regular and informative news
  • Create appropriate content for the above
  • Fundraise to support key activities (see below)
  • Upgrade our website
  • Host the first of many events to celebrate our recent success and the joys of dog ownership
  • Deploy appropriate signage to remind dog owners of their responsibilities
  • Continue to engage with OLB and maintain alignment between our respective objectives
 

Organisation

The idea of an establishment committee has the support of the DOMs community, and the founding members are:

Ben Rennell
Nick Burridge
Sara LaBrooy
Kate Stace
Roger Bowie
Ellen Knapp
Hamish Low
Michelle Brinsden

The positions of Chair and Secretary will rotate amongst the members until a new Board is put in place.

For the first six months, tasks will be shared across the committee, and a longer-term, activity-based structure will be identified; e.g. communications, events, fundraising, compliance, volunteering.

 

Duration

The Establishment Committee will function for six months after set-up, from September 2025 until February 2026.

The future organisation will propose a “have your say” DOMs meeting in late February 2026 for feedback and expressions of interest from volunteers.

 

Meetings

Committee meetings during the establishment phase will be held on or around the last Tuesday of every month, venues to be confirmed.

 

Code of Conduct

Our meetings and discussions will be conducted in a manner and style which emphasises mutual respect, personal safety and a sense of fun.