NZGAC Hunter Education. Enabling better education and safer hunting practices.
NZ Hunter Education: Module 5 :
Rule 6: Store Firearms & Ammunition Safely
Conditions relating to security precautions
(1) Every firearms licence shall be subject to the following conditions:
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(a) the holder shall not put a firearm in such a place that a young child has ready access to it:
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(b) the holder, where he or she has both a firearm and ammunition for it in his or her possession, either -
(i) shall take reasonable steps to ensure that the ammunition is not stored in such a way that a person who obtains access to the firearm also obtains access to the ammunition; or
(ii) shall ensure that, where the ammunition is stored with the firearm, the firearm is not capable of being discharged:
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(c) the holder shall take reasonable steps to ensure that any firearm in the holder’s possession is secured against theft:
(2) On and after 1 July 1993 the reasonable steps required by sub clause (1)(c) shall include:
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(a) keeping on the holder’s premises—
(i) a lockable cabinet, container, or receptacle of stout construction in which firearms may be stored; or
(ii) a lockable steel and concrete strong room in which firearms may be stored; or
(iii) a display cabinet or rack in which firearms may be immobilised and locked so that none of them may be fired; and
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(b) keeping locked or immobilised and locked in the cabinet, container, receptacle, strong room, display cabinet, or rack required by paragraph (a) every firearm which is on the holder’s premises and which is not under immediate and personal supervision of the holder or some other holder of a firearms licence; and
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(c) ensuring that no firearm in the holder’s possession is left in a vehicle that is unattended.
Please note that for A category licences there is no such thing as ‘an approved safe, etc’. The arms officer (or vetter) is really looking at an installation of security, which may include a safe of a certain standard. The objective is that Regulation 19 is met, which is a judgement call.
The role of the Mountain Safety Council is to promote the requirement that securing firearms is a safety issue, whereas the nature of that security is a matter for the law and the Arms Officer who acts as a vetter.
"Own It...Respect it...Secure It"
Storage of firearms and ammunition is a safety issue.
By law you are required to have a safe and secure place to store your firearms - this may be in a cabinet, a rack or in a secure room. Ideally firearms and ammunition should be stored separately and out of view. Secure storage is essential to prevent access to your firearms by children, plus unauthorised people, including thieves.
The following are the relevant sections of the law relating to the security provisions for A category licences. See chapter 13 or our FAQ section on the web site for security requirements for other category licences.
Other safety issues to consider re storage:
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While in a hut or at a camp with others, first make certain your firearm is unload when you leave your hunting area and before you arrive at the hut or camp. If possible, then remove your bolt from your firearm or for semi-automatics, lever action, pump action or break action firearms a trigger lock is a good idea.
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Never leave your firearms in an unattended vehicle – also make sure they are covered and out of sight as an added precaution. Use a security cable (See below) if required.
Story:
"Some years ago, on the evening before the start of duck shooting, the Police did a check around a number of rural Southland hotel car parks. They found numbers of vehicles with firearms in them and consequently confiscated them. Not a good start to the duck shooting season for some hunters, but a lesson learned! An expensive one too!"
Other safety issues to consider re storage:
Use a SECURITY CABLE: Because hunters can have difficulty with compliance in huts and on long vehicle trips, a security cable is a good option. This is a sensible and cheap method of securing a firearm, one that is supported by NZ Police, NZDA, Doc and Mountain Safety.
You can purchase a very useable security cable, such as those used to secure bikes, from a number of retail outlets. These are quite cheap and usually come with their own code, which is safer than having keys.
Story:
Some years ago, on the evening before the start of duck shooting, the Police did a check around a number of rural Southland hotel car parks. They found numbers of vehicles with unsecured firearms in them and consequently confiscated them. Not a good start to the duck shooting season for some hunters, but a lesson learned! An expensive one too!