Safe storage of firearms and ammunition

If you’re a firearms licence holder, you’ll need to know about changes to the storage and transport rules for firearms and ammunition, and changes to the seven rules of firearms safety.

Regulations were updated in February 2022, and to help Kiwis make sense of those changes, Te Tari Pūreke, the new firearms regulator, published a Secure Storage and Transport Guide.

Ammunition

All ammunition must now be stored in a locked container. You can now only store ammunition with firearms in a gun safe that has a separate lockable compartment with a different key than the key for the gun safe. You must keep these keys separate.

If your safe doesn’t have a separate lockable compartment, you need to store ammunition in its own secure storage container with a key, combination, or padlock, or in a stout locked cupboard.

Under no circumstances can firearms, ammunition or other arms items be left in a vehicle overnight.

Transportation

If you’re driving anywhere with your firearm, it needs to be inoperable during your travel and must be concealed from view. This means removing the bolt or an essential part (or if that’s not possible, applying a trigger or cable lock), or transporting the firearm in a locked carry case.

The ammunition needs to be separately and securely stored in a locked glove box or similar storage area, if practical.

And please, whatever you do, once you’ve finished using your firearm, unload it and lock it away. Never leave any firearms in your shed, home or vehicle unsecured at any time.

The only exceptions to the firearms and ammunition transport rules are if you’re using the firearm on a farm for farm-related activities, or you’re doing legally-authorised hunting or pest control (such as a regional council employed pest controller) and the licence holder is in the vehicle or the immediately vicinity of the vehicle with the firearms in it.

Get your copy of the Firearms Safety Code

Get ahead of the changes to firearms safety rules with the Firearms Safety Code.

Buy the book from www. firearmssafetyauthority.govt. nz/firearms-safety and have it shipped to your door or download a PDF copy for free.

Safe storage of firearms and ammunition

The 7 rules of firearm safety

Treat

Always point firearms in a safe direction

Chamber a cartridge only when ready to fire

Identify your target beyond all doubt

Check your firing zone

Store and transport firearms and ammunition safely

Avoid alcohol or drugs when handling firearms

When transporting firearms

After a complete change of direction from their Auckland lives, Rob and Kirsty Horne made the move to dairy farming and are now happily raising their children on a Reporoa farm.

“Rob was taken on as a dairy farm assistant in 2008 with no experience by well-known, Central Plateau dairy farming couple, Nick and Bec Simmonds, and we’ve worked our way up into our current contract milking position in Reporoa,” says Kirsty. Once living on a farm, Kirsty “rebelled at the age of 43” and got animals.

“I’d always loved animals but wasn’t allowed much in the city. I spent my childhood holidays on my great aunt and uncle’s lifestyle block in Bulls. ey bred cats, dogs and parrots, and always had animals they had rescued around. I loved it.”

Petting Farm dreams

By March 2022, she had amassed a good collection of animals including parrots, goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens and two alpacasful lment of a promise to her daughter, Summer. Two kunekune pigs, a sheep, a calf, quails, doves and a blue-tongued lizard are in the mix.

“ e time was right for me to step back from the farming side and start the petting farm I had always dreamed of, bringing farm life to the city kids.”

Rustic Charm Travelling Farm was born and with the help of some like-minded and enthusiastic young helpers and Summer, Kirsty got her farm on the road. ey are market regulars at e Mount, Papamoa and Taupo.

It’s no mean feat getting the farm ready for a day out. Kirsty has a customised horse oat which can transport the pigs (Peggy and Peaches), alpacas (OJ and Osun), the sheep (Crackers), two goats (George and Ja a) and calf (Daisy) in the main part, and the smaller animals such as birds, rabbits and guinea pigs are safely stowed in collapsible crates.

A microwavable heat pad keeps the blue-tongued lizard (Lizzy) warm on colder days.

“We carry food and water for the animals, all the pens and gazebos, and it’s a real team e ort to set up for a market. en we have to make sure all the animals are safe and well-looked after on the day.”

Educational experience

Kirsty talks to the children they meet and answers questions about the animals. She says it’s really interactive and the kids get to feel all the di erent textures such as feathers, wool, fur, bre and scales. It initiates a real educational experience for them.