The best pet gates in New Zealand — pressure-mount, extra-tall, and wide options compared. Find the right gate for your home with NZ prices and honest reviews.
Last updated
By Jess Aldridge 
When Māui was a puppy, I thought I could get away without a pet gate. I was wrong. It took exactly one unsupervised minute for him to discover the kitchen bin, redistribute its contents across the living room floor, and eat something that had his stomach upset for three days. A $50 gate would have saved me a $200 vet bill and a lot of carpet cleaner.
Pet gates aren’t glamorous, but they’re one of those things that quietly makes life with pets dramatically easier. Whether you’re keeping a dog out of the kitchen, away from the stairs, or separated from a new cat, the right gate saves you stress and keeps everyone safe.
Here’s what’s actually worth buying in NZ right now.
| Pick | Gate | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Best Overall | Dreambaby Chelsea Xtra-Tall | ~$140 | Most dogs, most homes |
| 💰 Best Value | Perma Child Safety Easy Fit | ~$52 | Budget doorway gate |
| 🐕 Best for Large Dogs | Dreambaby Chelsea Xtra-Tall & Xtra-Wide | ~$140 | Big dogs, wide openings |
| 🏠 Best for Stairs | Perma Child Safety Superior Swing Gate | ~$78 | Hardware-mount safety |
| 🐱 Best for Cat Owners | Kmart Pet Gate with Extension | $65 | Built-in cat door |
| ✨ Best Retractable | Dreambaby Retractable Gate | ~$96 | Wide spaces, tidy look |
Before you buy, there are four things that actually matter. Everything else is marketing.
This is where most people go wrong. Standard baby gates are 76cm tall — fine for small dogs, useless for anything bigger. My Staffie could clear 76cm without really trying. If your dog is medium-to-large, go 90cm minimum. The Dreambaby Xtra-Tall gates at 100cm are the sweet spot for most dogs.
NZ homes vary wildly. A villa hallway might be 75cm wide; an open-plan kitchen entrance could be 120cm+. Measure your actual opening before you buy anything. Most gates have an adjustable range, and you can buy extension panels to go wider — but check this fits before it arrives.
Two options:
Price: ~$140 from Dreambaby NZ | also at Mitre 10, Bunnings
Height: 100cm (39.4”)
Fits openings: 71–82cm (extendable to 4.82m with extensions)
Mounting: Pressure-mount with screw-in wall cups included
This is the gate I recommend to pretty much everyone with a medium or large dog. At 100cm tall, it’s genuinely too high for most dogs to jump — and I’ve seen German Shepherd owners in the reviews confirming it works for their dogs too.
What I like:
What’s not great:
The Chelsea range has been around for years and has a proven track record with both pets and kids. The Xtra-Tall version is rated 4.9/5 across dozens of reviews in NZ, and for good reason. If you only buy one gate, make it this one.
Available in white and black.
Price: ~$52 from Bunnings
Height: 76cm
Fits openings: 73–82cm (extendable to 282cm with extensions sold separately)
Mounting: Pressure-mount
If you have a small-to-medium dog and just need a basic gate that works, this is the one. At $52 from Bunnings, it’s less than half the price of the Dreambaby Chelsea and does the core job perfectly well.
What I like:
What’s not great:
This is essentially the same gate sold under various brands at baby stores around NZ. Perma Child Safety is the most consistently available brand at Bunnings, and at this price, it’s hard to argue with.
Also consider: The Perma Child Safety Extra Wide Easy Fit at ~$88 if your opening is wider — it fits 73–97cm out of the box.
Price: ~$140 from Dreambaby NZ
Height: 100cm
Fits openings: 97–108cm (extendable with extensions)
Mounting: Pressure-mount with screw-in wall cups
Same excellent gate as the standard Chelsea Xtra-Tall, but designed for wider openings out of the box. If you’ve got a hallway or kitchen entrance wider than 82cm and a large dog, this is your gate.
All the same features — auto-close, stay-open, one-handed operation, Ezy-Check indicator. The extra width means it comes with extension panels included, so you’re not paying extra for those.
If you’ve got a big dog in a home with wide doorways (pretty common in newer NZ builds), stop scrolling. This is it.
Available in white and black.
Price: ~$78 from Bunnings
Height: 73cm
Fits openings: 62–102cm
Mounting: Hardware-mount (screws into wall)
I’ll say it again: at the top of stairs, use a hardware-mount gate. This Perma gate screws into the wall frame for a solid, secure fit that won’t shift when your dog inevitably leans against it.
What I like:
What’s not great:
For the top of stairs with medium or smaller dogs, this is the safest option available at Bunnings. If you have a large dog, use the Dreambaby Chelsea Xtra-Tall and make sure you screw in those wall mounting cups properly.
Price: $65 from Kmart
Height: 76cm
Fits openings: 72–80cm (100–108cm with included extension)
Mounting: Wall-mount (screw-in mounting cups)
If you’ve got both a dog and a cat — like me with Māui and Pōhu — this gate is clever. It has a built-in pet door at the bottom (28cm x 32cm) that lets your cat pass through freely while keeping your dog contained.
What I like:
What’s not great:
The cat door is the killer feature here. Pōhu ignores gates entirely — he just jumps — but for less athletic cats, or for kittens you want to give access to a safe room while keeping the dog out, this is gold.
Heads up: The pet door measures 28cm x 32cm. Measure your cat before assuming they’ll fit, especially if you’ve got a chonky Maine Coon situation going on.
Price: ~$96 from Mitre 10
Height: 86cm
Fits openings: Up to 140cm
Mounting: Hardware-mount (screws into wall)
Retractable gates are great for spaces where a swinging gate would be annoying — wide openings, high-traffic areas, or spots where you want the gate to disappear when not in use.
What I like:
What’s not great:
Best for: well-behaved dogs, cats, and situations where you need to gate off a wide opening without a bulky metal frame. Not the right choice if your dog is the type to barrel through anything in their way.
Available in white and black.
Price: $79 from Trade Tested
Height: 74cm
Fits openings: 74–87cm
Mounting: Pressure-mount (screw-in cups included)
A solid mid-range option that sits between the budget Perma and the premium Dreambaby. Powder-coated steel, one-handed operation, double-locking system. The reviews are good and Trade Tested’s customer service is decent.
Not exceptional at anything, but competent at everything — like the Toyota Corolla of pet gates.
| Retailer | What They Stock | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bunnings | Perma Child Safety range | Best for budget and hardware-mount gates. Extensions always in stock. |
| Mitre 10 | Dreambaby range | Wide selection, good availability. Check store stock online first. |
| Kmart | Kmart own-brand pet gate | The one with the cat door — worth the trip. |
| Mighty Ape | Petswol, Dreambaby | Stock is patchy — many listed as sold out at time of writing. |
| Trade Tested | Own-brand gates | Online only. Good prices, ships nationwide. |
| Dreambaby NZ | Full Dreambaby range | Direct from the brand. dreambaby.co.nz |
| Trade Me | Everything secondhand | Great for grabbing a barely-used gate for half price. |
One thing I’ve noticed: dedicated pet stores like Animates and PetDirect don’t carry a great range of pet gates. You’re better off at hardware stores (Bunnings, Mitre 10) or going direct through Dreambaby NZ. The baby/child safety aisle is where the good pet gates live.
For most dog owners in NZ, the Dreambaby Chelsea Xtra-Tall (~$140) is the gate to get. It’s tall enough for large breeds, adjustable enough for most doorways, and the auto-close feature means you won’t accidentally leave it open.
On a budget? The Perma Child Safety Easy Fit (~$52 at Bunnings) does the job for small-to-medium dogs.
Got a cat and a dog? The Kmart Pet Gate ($65) with the built-in cat door is a no-brainer.
And please — if you’re gating the top of stairs, hardware-mount only. No exceptions. That $78 Perma Superior Swing Gate from Bunnings could prevent a genuinely dangerous fall.
A decent pet gate costs less than one emergency vet visit. Trust me on that one.
Looking for other ways to keep your pet contained? Check out our guide to the best dog crates in NZ for crate training and travel. If you’re setting up a safe space for a new puppy, our puppy food guide and best dog beds are worth a read too. And if your dog’s the type who needs containing because they’re food-obsessed (hello, Māui), our best dog food guide might explain why.
Absolutely — most baby gates work perfectly for pets. The key difference is height. Baby gates are typically 76cm tall, which is fine for small-to-medium dogs and cats, but a determined large breed will hop right over. For big dogs, look for extra-tall gates (90cm+). Also check the bar spacing if you have a small dog or cat — gaps wider than 6cm and a kitten could squeeze through.
Pressure-mount gates are fine for doorways and hallways — they're easy to install and don't damage walls. But for the top of stairs, always use a hardware-mount gate that screws into the wall. A pressure-mount gate at the top of stairs can be pushed out by a determined dog (or toddler), creating a serious fall hazard.
Standard gates at 76cm are too short for most large breeds. A Labrador, German Shepherd, or Staffie cross can easily clear that height. Go for at least 90cm — the Dreambaby Chelsea Xtra-Tall at 100cm is ideal for large dogs. Some athletic breeds may need even taller barriers.
Retractable mesh gates are great for wide openings and spaces where a swinging gate would be impractical. They roll away when not in use, which is a big plus in smaller NZ homes. The trade-off is durability — a large or determined dog can push through mesh more easily than steel. Best for well-behaved dogs and cats.
Pressure-mount gates are your best friend as a renter — no drilling, no wall damage, and you can take them with you when you move. The Perma Child Safety Easy Fit from Bunnings is a great budget option at around $52, or the Kmart Pet Gate at $65 if you want a built-in cat door.
Most cats can jump over a standard 76cm gate without breaking a sweat. If you want to block your dog but let your cat pass freely, get a gate with a built-in cat door — like the Kmart Pet Gate ($65) which has a small flap at the bottom. Alternatively, some owners leave the gate slightly raised so the cat can slide under but the dog can't.
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