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NZ Hunter Education Course: 

Module 1:INTRODUCTION

Welcome to New Zealand Hunter Education. 

 

In New Zealand we have:

 

  • Over 4.4 million people

  • 15 National Parks covering more than 30,000 square kilometres

  • Nearly 1,000 rivers with a total length of over 180,000 kilometres

  • 7 species of deer numbering over 250,000, plus tahr, chamois and untold pigs, goats, rabbits, hares, wallabies and game birds.

 

We are privileged to be able to hunt many of these game animals any day of the year.

Over 230,000 people in NZ have firearms licences with a large number of these being active hunters. About 9,000 new people obtain firearms licences each year.

 

However, we live in a changing world. With increasing numbers of hunters and increasing pressure on the same resources from competing interests, there is a growing awareness of the need for hunter education and safer hunting practices.

 

Until now, all you needed to be able to hunt was to pass the Mountain Safety Firearms course and obtain a firearms licence. Hunter education in any structured form has been virtually non-existent.

 

We believe that New Zealand hunters need and deserve a top quality hunting education and the public demand safer hunting. The two go together.

Photo used by permission of Rob Suisted

www.naturespic.com

Because we are now beginning to value our game as a resource, this alone demands education on issues such as the role of the hunter, ethics, our part in game management and conservation, plus technical knowledge for hunters.

 

Our goal is to have a NZ hunter education programme with quality resources that:
  • Meets the changing needs of New Zealand hunters.
  • Enables our hunters to be the safest, the most responsible and most knowledgeable in the world. 

 

If you are over 16, your first step to owning a firearm is to complete the required modules. You will then need to sit a multi-choice test administered by the NZ Mountain Safety Council on behalf of the NZ Police. (Please note that successfully passing our course does NOT qualify you to own a firearm.)

 

If you pass the multi-choice test, the following will take place:

  • You will then be vetted by the NZ Police

  • You will be interviewed by an Arms Officer, who will also check your security.

  • If you pass, in due course you will be issued with a firearms licence.

  • You can then go hunting and shooting by yourself.

 

To make you a safer and more successful hunter our advanced hunter education resources are available. (See home page)

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