Copyright 1996-2002, Council of Licensed Firearms Owners

Council of Licensed Firearms Owners
Date: 12 December 2000

As you will be aware in the last few weeks the Chief of Staff of Defence Headquarters, Major General Dodson, announced the unilateral permanent closure of the Trentham Rifle Range, which directly impacts on pistol shooting, black powder, service rifle, outdoor small bore and of course full bore rifle shooting (the NRA).

Whilst the closure of the Trentham Rifle Range is certainly not part of COLFO’s core mandate. It is a matter that stands to have a dramatic negative effect on the New Zealand Firearms Community and indeed for New Zealanders, accordingly we have decided to help however we can.

Background

The range was built in 1892 by the New Zealand Rifle Association, it was named ‘The Sommerville Range’ after the Chairman of the NZNRA, no government money was involved.

The range was then purchased by the Queen (Queen Victoria) on 20 October 1900. It was paid for from a fund set aside for the purpose of purchasing lands for rifle ranges. In November 1903 the area was gazetted as a Rifle Range Reserve with its control and management vested in the Minister of Defence. It was not gazetted as a Defence Purpose Reserve.

At that time the land area of the reserve was about 1,266 acres. It was set up for ranges up to 3000 yards and was bounded by the rail to the west. The military took over the land for defence purposes at the time of World War 1, and have remained on it to this day despite the fact it was not actually defence land.

The current situation

The Chief of Staff, Major General Dodson has closed the range based on reports received outlining that the range does not comply with a theoretical safety template the military propose to adopt described as JSP 403.

One aspect that is particularly disappointing is that is would appear that the Military have been aware of theoretical safety issues for some considerable time, possibly as long as 2 years, and have not contemplated consulting nor communicating their intended course of action.

Considering that the range has been used safely free of fatal injury for some 110 years it would certainly seem from a logical reason point of view, that the actions to date have been unreasonable with an extreme lack of consultation and they are certainly arguably an abuse of power and privilege.

We understand that the President of the NRA in the last few days has met with the Chief of Staff Major General Dodson, in order to express the NRA’s disappointment and concerns, further more we understand that no resolution was reached at that meeting.

At a political level, the President of COLFO Michael Reeves, has had communication with Rex Kirton Mayor of Upper Hutt, Mr Paul Swain Minister of Commerce and MP for the Trentham area, COLFO has also organised a meeting for Tuesday 12 December 2000 with the Minister of Defence Mr Mark Burton, COLFO has also invited the President of the NRA Mr Tony Loughnan and the NRA’s newly appointed legal counsel The Rt. Hon. Sir Geoffrey Palmer to attend that meeting, the group will be expressing concerns and submitting alternative solutions for the short term, and long term.

Today Michael Reeves with Tony Loughnan, Brian Carter and Sir Geoffrey Palmer met with the Minister of Defence Mr Mark Burton with two media officers and three representatives from Defence and Army Headquarters inclusive of Major General Dodson, the stance that the Military are adopting is that they are endeavouring to place a high onus of proof upon proposed civilian use to the extent they are asking for absolute safety in terms of risk.

The Minister has stated that subject to his advisors being satisfied concerning safety issues he would then, and only then reconsider his prior decision to close the range.

A considerable amount of research now has to be undertaken in order to identify short term and long term solutions, which may involve bringing in independent experts from overseas and researching the legal status of the land.

In the short term, in my own view, the probability of the National Full Bore Championships proceeding in January is remote, the issues in many respects are far more serious than any one event, furthermore in my view the matter will only be resolved politically, but only after considerable media attention, legal manoeuvres and clarification of the various technical issues, COLFO considers the closure of the Trentham Rifle Range to be a ‘line in the sand’ in terms of the erosion of the rights/privileges of the good shooters of New Zealand.

Conclusion

I strongly recommend that you write to your local member of parliament, expressing your deep dissatisfaction with respect to the closure of the Trentham Range, the manner in which the Military have dealt with the matter and request that the matter be re-examined in the interests of sport and natural justice. In addition also write to the Minister of Sport Mr Trevor Mallard, the Minister of Defence Mr Mark Burton, letters also to the Prime Minister would not go amiss, as I understand The Rt. Hon. Helen Clark has taken an interest in the matter. There is no doubt there will not be a second chance on this matter, in my view if every supporter of the Trentham Range was to put pen to paper and write logically and respectfully to the MP concerned or Ministers, we have a reasonable chance of seeing this matter resolved promptly at a political level, but to do nothing is apathy.

Be assured that COLFO and its executive will work closely with the executive of the NRA and will do all that can be done to see the range re-opened or alternative scenarios pursued which could include pre-agreed New Zealand safety standards being agreed to for the civilian use of the range, the ultimate transferral of the land to be vested in the control of perhaps the council or a trust established for the purpose.

Michael Reeves
President

ENDS.

Read COLFO policies or email info@colfo.org.nz for more information