Deaths of two hunters 'devastating'

File photo / NZ Herald

The deaths of two hunters yesterday have been called "devastating" and "completely unnecessary" by a firearm and hunter safety expert.

Nicole McKee, programme manager for firearms and hunter safety for New Zealand mountain Safety Council, said the deaths of a two people in two separate hunting accidents yesterday was "devastating for the firearms community but especially for the families of those involved."

"There were two mothers out there yesterday that had a tragic end to their Mother's Day, and that's completely unnecessary," Ms McKee said.

Yesterday morning a 16-year-old boy out duck-hunting with a group was fatally shot in Matata.

Later in the day at 4.30pm, a 21-year-old man was shot and killed while hunting in Ruatiti, near Raetihi.

Police believe his firearm discharged while he was crossing a fence.

Ms McKee said while few details have emerged of the two incidents, both fatalities were unnecessary.

The teenager died during the second weekend of the duck hunting season, a popular New Zealand past-time, Ms McKee said.

"Not knowing the details of what occurred yesterday morning it's hard for us to specifically point to what might have gone wrong," she said.

"Going on past tragedies and injuries that have occurred it sometimes mostly relates to loading a firearm before they need to, and not looking at their firing zone when they fire their shots."

Ms McKee said the 21-year-old was understood to have died from a rifle shot, so was likely hunting big game.

She said all hunters are told to completely unload their firearms before crossing fences and any other obstacles.

"It need not have occurred if all firearms were completely unloaded at the time of crossing the fence," she said.

Ms McKee said there are seven rules for firearms safety, and almost all firearms fatalities can be traced back to one rule being broken.

"[Hunters] need to remind themselves that they've got a tool in their hand that can deliver lethal force not only to the animals that they're after but to others as well... I sometimes suspect that complacency plays a big part in this."