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After three consecutive years in the finalists’ circle, Christchurch Huntaway Koozer has finally fetched the top spot after being named New Zealand’s Top Office Dog 2025.

Frog Recruitment annually celebrates the country’s canine colleagues, with 2025 marking the competition’s tenth year.

This year’s winner, Koozer, is a much-loved fixture at Airpark Christchurch.

He has twice finished on the podium in previous years of the competition before clinching this year’s title.

But his owner, Graeme Hughes, said Koozer is more than just a beloved office mascot.

“The first thing staff ask when they arrive is, where’s Koozer?” Hughes said.

“He’s the one they cuddle when they’re stressed or anxious, and he has this unconditional, non-judgemental love that instantly calms the room.

“He’s been my teammate, HR specialist, ops manager and best friend rolled into one, and never taken a sick day yet.

“Even in meetings, if he heads off to his bed, we all know it’s time to wrap things up.”

But Koozer isn’t the only winner of this year’s competition, with Boss, the forestry accelerant-detection German Shepherd from Invercargill, being named ‘Top Dog with a Job’.

Boss works alongside Fire and Emergency NZ to detect trace flammables in challenging forestry environments, an important job that protects native wildlife and helps investigators determine the cause of suspicious fires.

Boss, the forestry accelerant-detection German Shepherd from Invercargill, had been named ‘Top Dog with a Job’. Photo / Supplied

His owner-handler, Murray Milne-Maresca, said Boss’s role is “demanding but vital”.

“Boss is a superstar, reliable, professional and calm under pressure,” said Milne-Maresca.

“His nose is 200 times stronger than ours, and he can detect accelerants days after a fire has been extinguished.”

Boss has even been granted legal name suppression during a court case, which Murray said demonstrates just how important his work is in protecting the community.

“He’s a lifesaver and a partner I can trust in the most dangerous situations,” said Milne-Maresca.

Frog Recruitment Managing Director Shannon Barlow says this year’s winners show the impact dogs have at work, from lifting team morale to safeguarding communities”.

“Koozer shows us that persistence pays off, he’s been a finalist three years running, loved by his workplace for his ability to calm, support and lift morale.

“His story is proof that the everyday presence of dogs at work can transform stress into calm and help teams thrive.

“Boss, meanwhile, represents the extraordinary skills that dogs can contribute in highly specialised roles, supporting investigations and keeping communities safe.”

Jazlyn Whales is a multimedia journalist based in the Christchurch newsroom.