Around 700 people attend the annual Hunting, Shooting and Militaria Show which has been held at Whangārei's Forum North for 16 years. Photo/Supplied
Around 700 people attend the annual Hunting, Shooting and Militaria Show which has been held at Whangārei's Forum North for 16 years. Photo/Supplied
The future of the annual Hunting, Shooting and Militaria Show in Whangārei is uncertain after a health and safety review.
Sporting Shooters Association of New Zealand Northland branch secretary Phil Cregeen said there have been 18 previous gun shows in Whangārei, 16 of those at Forum North, and "all without incident".
After being told in October last year that there are to be no guns or ammunition on site at Forum North going forward, Cregeen queried this decision with Mayor Sheryl Mai and was told there was a review under way for the show, usually held in June.
"The result of the Health and Safety review was that council staff imposed a number of additional conditions on our use of the hall which include: no ammunition sales, no firearms or ammunition to be brought into the show by visitors, all visitors to pass through a metal detector and have any bags searched, no return to the show after leaving, council contracted security staff to be on site throughout," Cregeen said.
Cregeen said the council has also removed the organisers' discounted rate for a community group to hire the hall.
An example of a display at the 2015 show. Photo/Supplied
"The effect of these new conditions, while greatly inconveniencing both vendors and up to 700 visitors is to quadruple the operating cost of the show making it financially impossible for a small not for profit community organisation to exhibit and educate."
He said while it usually cost around $500 to $1000, it would cost around $4000 this year and would make the cost of renting a table so high that people wouldn't do it.
"The council have lost sight of the fact that most exhibitors and vendors are private individuals lawfully trading their sporting goods in the same way as a community antiques and collectables fair."
Cregeen said every firearm in the hall is under the supervision of someone with a firearms license, all the firearms on display are secured to the table, all firearms leaving the hall are checked to make sure they are covered up and anyone who buys ammunition can only pick it up from the door when they leave.
Sporting Shooters Association of New Zealand Northland brach secretary Phil Cregeen. Photo/File
Whangārei District Council general manager community Sandra Boardman said Forum North is a public building and both the council, and the customers who hire the venue are required to keep the public safe.
She said the country's health and safety scene has changed a lot since the show was first held. Under the review the council needed to ensure its safety requirements were up to scratch and would be met by hirers during events like the gun show.
"We can see the community benefits of local organisations promoting their activities and gun safety. However, allowing a lot of firearms and ammunition to be brought into a crowded hall in the middle of a city with minimal precautions did not seem sensible."
If the organisers plan to meet the safety requirements the event can go ahead.
She said the community group discount, is in effect subsidised by ratepayers where there is a wider community benefit and very little commercial activity.
"The gun show is largely oriented towards trading of firearms and associated gear, and organisers have the option of recovering increased costs from traders at the event, rather than expecting subsidisation by ratepayers."
Cregeen said the association was looking for alternative options.
