1. Liability Disclaimer

GroomWars New Zealand Limited and its organisers accept no responsibility or liability for any injury, illness, loss, damage, accident, or incident that may occur to any guest, competitor, judge, speaker, vendor, or dog during the event. This includes, but is not limited to, issues arising from interaction with other attendees, equipment malfunctions, animal behaviour, environmental hazards, or electrical faults resulting in electrocution. The organisers also accept no liability for disruptions, damages, or losses caused by natural disasters such as earthquakes, storms, floods, or other acts of nature. Attendance and participation are strictly at the individual’s own risk.

2. Refund Policy

Refunds for competitor entry fees will be available until two weeks prior to the event and will be processed minus any applicable administrative or transaction fees.

Refunds for general admission tickets, workshop passes, and other purchases will only be available up until 20 August 2025. No refunds will be issued for any reason after this date. Please ensure you are confident in your booking before this deadline, as all sales become final thereafter.

3. Event Cancellation and Force Majeure

GroomWars New Zealand Limited reserves the right to cancel, postpone, or reschedule the event due to circumstances beyond its control. These include, but are not limited to, severe weather, pandemics, natural disasters, government restrictions, venue complications, or other unforeseen disruptions. In such cases, the organisers accept no liability for any resulting costs or losses, including travel or accommodation expenses.

4. Postponement Policy

In the event of cancellation, the expo will be postponed to a future date selected by GroomWars New Zealand Limited and guest speakers. All tickets and competition entries will be valid for the rescheduled date. Further details will be communicated to all registered participants.

5. Technical Issues

GroomWars New Zealand Limited is not responsible for any website outages, registration issues, or communication failures. For the latest updates, attendees are advised to follow the event’s official social media pages.

6. Payment Terms

All payments are to be made in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). A non-refundable processing or service fee applies to all transactions and may vary depending on the payment method used.

7. Dog Welfare and Venue Rules

Only competitor dogs and certified care/service dogs are permitted at the event. All dogs must be under the full supervision of their handler. Competitor dogs must be crated when not being groomed or shown and must be leashed at all other times. Care/service dogs must remain on leash and under control. Dogs must be regularly toileted, watered, and never left unattended.

8. Clean-Up Responsibilities

Handlers are responsible for cleaning up after their dogs. All faeces must be promptly removed and disposed of appropriately. Any urine on non-grass surfaces (such as doorways, footpaths, or paved areas) must be thoroughly cleaned by the handler.

9. Competitor Conduct

Competitors must conduct themselves in a respectful, professional manner at all times. Any form of rudeness, unsportsmanlike behaviour, backchatting judges, or disrespect toward other competitors, organisers, or guests will result in immediate disqualification and removal from the event. No refunds will be issued in such cases.

10. Judging Decisions

All decisions made by the judging panel are final and binding. No disputes, appeals, or challenges will be considered.

11. Prizes and Payouts

Prizes will be awarded as advertised and cannot be exchanged for cash unless designated as a cash prize. Cash prizes may be given in person or paid via direct credit in the days following the event. No substitutions or adjustments will be permitted.

12. Animal Welfare and Handling

All dogs must be handled with care, kindness, and professionalism. As this is a public event, any competitor observed rough-handling a dog or engaging in distressing or inappropriate behaviour will be immediately disqualified and removed from the venue. This will be enforced with zero tolerance and no refunds.

13. Communication of Changes

Should any major changes to the event occur—including schedule updates, venue adjustments, or policy amendments—GroomWars New Zealand Limited will make every reasonable effort to communicate these via the official website, email notifications, and social media channels. It is the responsibility of attendees and competitors to check these platforms for updates. The organisers accept no responsibility for missed communications where these channels have been used.