Kiwi greyhounds expected to be sent to Qld ahead of NZ racing ban

New Zealand passed legislation to end greyhound racing in 2024. (Supplied: Greyhound Racing Victoria )

Dozens of greyhounds are expected to be flown into Queensland from New Zealand ahead of a ban on racing set to take place from August.

A Greens senator has raised concerns the animals will continue to be used for racing in Australia.

More than 1,500 dogs will need rehoming in New Zealand once the racing industry is officially banned on August 1, a government spokesperson says.

Up to 70 greyhounds are expected to be flown from New Zealand to Queensland next month ahead of a ban on racing in their home country, with the Australian government admitting it has no power to stop them being used for the sport once they arrive.

A hearing of the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee last week heard the charter flight was expected to travel from Christchurch to Queensland in July.

New Zealand announced it 2024 it would ban greyhound racing from August 1 this year, due to animal welfare concerns.

Over 1,500 dogs will need to be rehomed in New Zealand, a spokesperson for New Zealand Racing Minister Winston Peters told the ABC.

A transition agency has been set up in the country to help aid owners with rehoming — as well as provide retraining and deployment support for industry workers.

New South Wales Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi told the Senate hearing last week details of the planned flight emerged through a leaked message from a private greyhound racing group.

"With the message explicitly asking participants to please keep this information confidential," Senator Faruqi said.

She said the move appeared "to be kind of a deliberate attempt to avoid" New Zealand's new Greyhound Transition Agency.

Senator Faruqi said she was concerned the animals would be sent to Australia to continue racing.

Australian Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi raised concerns about the imporation of the dogs. (AAP: Lukas Coch)

"If they survive, they will become the responsibility of Australians to rehome," she said.

Greyhound racing is currently legal across most Australian jurisdictions, including Queensland.

The Australian Capital Territory banned the sport in 2018, while the Tasmanian Government is attempting to legislate a ban from 2029.

A spokesperson for Mr Peters told the ABC there was nothing in his country's legislation that prevented the export of dogs for racing or breeding before July 30.

"Greyhound racing remains legal until August 1, and the sport remains under the control of Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ)," the spokesperson s