Feds playing politics over firearm safety

Federated Farmers deputy leader Donald Aubrey is way off the mark with his hysterical claim that land occupiers are going to be charged for game bird hunting, says Fish & Game NZ chief executive Bryce Johnson.

“Mr Aubrey has completely overreacted to what was a conversation I had with a media representative about safe firearms use,” says Mr Johnson.

“Given firearms are such a significant part of rural New Zealand culture, it’s concerning that the man who intends leading the farming lobby group wants to stand in the way of the firearms safety message being reinforced to landowners on a regular basis, as occurs with licensed hunters.

“Commenting in the media about the death of Pukekohe farmer and hunter Phillip Bright, I suggested there is one group of hunters who Fish & Game is unable to reach with our annual safe and responsible handling of firearms message – namely those farmers who hunt under the ‘land occupier privilege’.”

The law does not require land occupiers who only intend to hunt game birds on the land which they occupy to buy a licence from Fish & Game NZ – the organisation currently has no intention of changing that, says Mr Johnson.

“But because they aren’t required to buy a game bird hunting licence, they remain effectively unknown to us, and hence don’t receive any information from Fish & Game about the annual hunting regulations which includes the safe firearms handling message.

“In light of what’s happened, I think it would be good to have them registered – not charged a licence fee – simply so we can provide them with the safety message and regulations.”

Every year Fish & Game NZ, in conjunction with the NZ Police and Mountain Safety Council, undertakes a significant communications effort prior to the game bird hunting season to promote safe firearms use.

“Fish & Game alone does its utmost to remind licensed hunters about safe firearms practice and good hunting etiquette by printing information in our annual regulations booklet, paid advertisements and pre-season press releases,” says Mr Johnson.

“I would have thought Mr Aubrey would be all for that message being reinforced to as wide an audience as possible given the tragic incident that occurred over the weekend.”