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© AFP
The Association of Plastic surgeons looked at ACC claims from 2004 to 2014 and said the number of attacks increased each year.

The study found almost 6000 of those bitten by dogs were admitted to hospital - a rate of almost two a day. More than a third of them are children, with mostly facial injuries.

Plastic surgeon Dr Zachary Moaveni said about 70 percent of attacks occured on private properties.

He said children under 10, Maori and Pacific Islanders and people who lived in low socio-economic areas were more likely to be attacked.

The study said the number of incidents rose from 10.5 per 100,000 in 2004 to 14.3 in 2014 - a rate Dr Moaveni said was among the highest compared to studies from Australia, United Kingdom, and United States.

He said current national legislation and policy on dog control and education in New Zealand appeared to be inadequate, and urged the Government to establish a working group on the issue.