The new Arms Amendment Bill, which outlaws military-style semi-automatics, magazines and parts that can be used to assemble prohibited firearms, will inhibit some landowners from effectively doing pest control.
Landowners with significant pest problems will no longer have access to one of the tools they need to effectively manage their land and, instead, will have to rely on contractors who are unlikely to be available when required.
“The Government has failed to deliver on its commitment to farmers and other major landowners that they would continue to have access to the firearms they need for effective animal pest control,” Anderson said.
“Pests don’t wait around for contractors to turn up.
“We are disappointed exemption wasn’t given to what we asked for in some respects but we will work with police and the Government on the firearms reform and surrendering of weapons as the Arms Amendment Bill becomes law.”
Anderson said controlling large pest species populations such as wallabies, feral goats, pigs, deer and tahr is a big part of farming, more so in the high country.
“Without effective control in such areas there’s likely to be a ripple-on effect and we will find these pest species spreading and becoming a problem down country.
“These farmers at the moment are essentially giving the rest of the country protection from many pest species but that will become more of a challenge.”
He wondered why contractors but not farmers can be approved to use the banned military-style semi-automatic assault rifles.
“That’s the million-dollar question and we will be working on that.”
Anderson said Federated Farmers recognises the law has to change.
“It’s just the whole select committee has shown both a lack of trust and a complete lack of understanding of the needs of the rural sector on this issue.
“We have publicly backed the Government on this important issue from day one, based on the need to both protect public safety and ensure continuing access to the appropriate firearms for those who have demonstrated a genuine need.
“There are five million hectares of privately owned high and hill country in New Zealand.
“What these landowners have been left with is the equivalent of painting the Auckland harbour bridge with a toothbrush.”
The select committee considers Conservation Department and regional council staff can be trusted with the firearms but a small number of carefully vetted private landowners cannot, Anderson said.
“Farmers are being told to use contractors instead of doing it themselves. Where are these contractors going to come from?
“Will they be available at 10pm on a frozen winter’s night to shoot wallabies off a forage crop?
“Or up at 5am waiting for a mob of pasture-wrecking pigs? And if they are, how much will they expect to get paid to do it? By the time the contractors arrive the pests will have moved on.
“Instead of a limited number of rural landholders having these firearms locked away in a safe on the property where they will be used we are being told that having people travelling the country with these firearms in their vehicles, staying in temporary accommodation with no firearms security is a safer option.
“It is completely illogical and Feds will continue to advocate that rural landowners who can display a genuine need to use these firearms as part of their business should be eligible to apply for an exemption, just like any other professional firearms user in the Bill.”
Anderson acknowledged the urgency and public pressure surrounding the law reform.
“It was a difficult task for the Government to give fair consideration to all aspects of when and why firearms are needed in rural NZ.
“None of the changes we seek undermine public safety.
“We are very pleased that farmers and those who undertake pest control on farms are still going to have access to semi-automatic rimfire rifles, such as the .22 long rifle, and semi-automatic shotguns with limited magazine capacity.
“These firearms are essential for the control of small, mobile pest species often found in groups such as rabbits, hares, possums and Canada geese where quick follow-up shots are important for the efficient and humane destruction of these pests.”
Farmers need good, detailed information over coming months about the firearms amnesty and the implementation of the law change.
Those with illegal firearms have until September 30 to give them to police.
Anyone found in possession of any of the illegal firearms after that date faces up to five years in jail.
