Advocacy Update: Government Introduces Revised Clubs and Ranges Rules

Advocacy Update: Government Introduces Revised Clubs and Ranges Rules

Last week the Arms (Shooting Clubs, Shooting Ranges, and Other Matters) Amendment Bill had its first reading. This proposed legislation has significant implications for our activities and the way we operate our clubs and ranges.

Overview of the Bill

After an initial review of the proposal changes, here’s what you need to know.

The government has recently tabled a bill aimed at modifying the regulatory framework governing shooting clubs and ranges. This bill introduces changes designed to simplify the administrative processes for non-pistol shooting clubs, such as ours, and adjust oversight mechanisms to allegedly reduce the burden on shooting range operators while maintaining public safety standards. Key features include transitioning from a certification system to an enrolment-based system for non-pistol clubs and ranges and modifying how inspections and compliance are managed.

The bill’s sponsor, Minister Nicole McKee's points, can be highlighted as follows:

1. Simplification of Regulations: Minister McKee emphasised the simplification of the regulatory requirements for both pistol and non-pistol shooting clubs and ranges. The bill introduces a distinction between pistol and non-pistol entities, maintaining stricter controls for pistol clubs and ranges while easing regulations for non-pistol clubs and ranges, i.e. NZDA Branches.

2. Streamlining Operational Requirements: The bill proposes changes like simplifying annual reporting requirements for pistol clubs and introducing enrolment instead of approval and certification for non-pistol clubs and ranges. This approach is intended to reduce the administrative burden on club operators and volunteers.

3. Enhancing Operational Flexibility: A significant addition is the provision for temporary non-pistol shooting ranges, which can be set up for events without the usual administrative hurdles. This aims to support clubs in hosting competitions more easily. This is a positive change, and it would allow one-off HUNTS courses to set up a safe range in areas without a range facility. This is undoubtedly a commonsense and welcome change. 

4. Adjustments to Inspection and Compliance Protocols: The bill modifies how inspections are carried out, aiming to provide more predictability and less intrusion, with inspections scheduled rather than arbitrary. This includes specific provisions about what inspectors can access during visits, focusing on hard copies of documents to reduce the operational burden on clubs.

5. Maintaining Public Safety: Despite the relaxation in some areas, the bill maintains that all changes are intended to uphold or enhance public safety outcomes. It keeps stringent requirements where necessary, particularly around pistol clubs and ranges, reflecting their higher risk profile.

6. Administrative Changes: The bill also outlines administrative shifts from the Police to the Ministry of Justice, reflecting a broader governmental strategy of centralising and possibly streamlining how firearms regulations are managed across New Zealand.

In summary, Minister McKee's focus in the bill is on balancing the need to maintain high safety standards with the practicalities of running shooting clubs and ranges, aiming to ensure these entities can operate more efficiently without unnecessary bureaucratic overhead while safeguarding the public and club members.

Media Statements and Parliamentary Debates

The discussions in Parliament and recent media statements and articles have brought to light various perspectives on the bill and regulation of our clubs and ranges. There have been expressions of support by Act, National and NZ First for the simplifications proposed, alongside voiced concerns by Labour, Greens and the Maori Party MPs about potential oversights in maintaining rigorous safety standards. NZDA, as an advocate for sensible but safe laws, has publicly addressed these discussions and issued a media statement today, emphasising our commitment to safety and the need for legislation that accurately reflects the responsible nature of our community. Our media release and comments have stressed the importance of basing legislative changes on factual data and the real-life operation of our clubs and ranges.

MP Speeches – Hansard Transcript 

For those interested in a deep dive on the views of the various MPs, you can read the full Hansard transcript of the speeches at the first reading.

NZDA's Position

We have yet to dive deeply into the details, so here’s our initial reaction. 

While the NZDA appreciates efforts to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, we hold reservations about the continuation of Part 6 of the Arms Act in its modified form. We hoped for a full repeal and are concerned that the persistence of this part may not fully recognise the proven safety record and low-risk profile of our well-regulated shooting environments. As you know, all NZDA ranges hold Police shooting range certification, and several clubs have worked hard to open new ranges despite the administrative hurdles.

NZDA is committed to ensuring that our voices are heard in the legislative process. We believe that any changes to the law must enhance our ability to operate safely and effectively without imposing undue constraints on our responsible activities. 

This is a pivotal moment for our community. By standing together and making our positions clear, we can influence the outcome in a way that safeguards our interests and continues to promote the safe and responsible use of firearms.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement. For further updates, please check our newsletters and website. Your active participation and input are invaluable as we navigate these changes together.

Please feel free to forward this to your hunting and shooting friends and family who may be interested in this law change.

Our CEO’s full statement is available here.

READ THE BILL

We encourage all members to read the full Bill to understand the proposed changes thoroughly.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE BILL

It is crucial that our branches and community engage proactively with this legislative process. We urge each of you to read the proposed bill and our public statements and submit your feedback through the official channels. Public submissions are a powerful tool to ensure that our collective expertise and experience inform the final legislation.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR SUBMISSION