The Accident Compensation Corporation says it gets over 10,000 claims per year from dog attack victims.
There have been five serious incidents in the last fortnight, including two attacks on toddlers - all by pitbulls or mastiffs, or breed crosses.
ACC spokesperson Laurie Edwards says the number of dog attack claims is steadily increasing, and the figure may not include all victims:
Mr Edwards says the cost to ACC of dog attacks is around $4 million per year, and that doesn't include the wider costs of time off work, hospital expenses, and emotional scars.
RadioLIVE