Thread: Going for a walk

Originally Posted by mopheadrob

I’d be careful what you say online… rule #5 of your hunting permit states “no firearm shall be discharged in the vicinity of huts, tracks…”

https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...it-conditions/

To answer @SAUM’s question, there’s nothing about having your gun covered and the only time a distance from the path is specified is for Great Walks (500m).

You're dead on the money there, the devil is in the details. Hookey Knob is a hunting area, so A-ok to hunt it in that respect. Regarding "vicinity" of a track, because DOC doesn't define what vicinity is, nor does the Arms Act relating to discharging firearms, it's anyone's guess how far you should be from a track (see rant below ). Because so much is left to interpretation, it's up to us as individuals to determine the spirit and intent of the law and try to work within that.


The next bit is a bit of a derail from the thread, but:

I know clarification almost always leads to further restriction, but these completely nebulous phrases tick me off. Writing policy or laws with no definitions is lunacy in my mind.

"No firearm shall be discharged:
In the vicinity of huts, tracks, campsites, road-ends or other public places.
Within 500 m of a Great Walk Hut or track. See Great Walks.
In a manner that endangers, frightens or annoys members of the public, or that endangers any property."

They basically make it impossible to know you're following the law because it's completely subjective. People say to use common sense, then someone gets "annoyed or frightened" despite you working your butt off to keep everyone happy and you're still SOL.
It's right up there with "fit and proper" for leaving us completely at the whim and mercy of anyone who doesn't like us.