Fellow hunters, when the Council of Licensed Firearm Owners (COLFO) contributed to the Arms Act consultation, we warned that groups like Gun Control NZ would push for tighter restrictions on law-abiding firearm owners. We predicted they’d demand limits on the number of guns you can own, calibre restrictions, and more measures that would hit hunters hardest. Some called us alarmists, claiming there was no evidence or public support for this. The proof is out there, and it’s a direct threat to our way of life in the bush.

While researching a recent update, we found Gun Control NZ’s Bluesky account, a platform packed with anti-gun activists. They’re blunt about their agenda there, openly calling for caps on how many firearms licensed, vetted hunters like you can own. No focus on cracking down on criminals or tougher penalties for illegal use, just more hurdles for responsible folks who rely on rifles and shotguns to hunt ethically and sustainably. Worse yet, their constitution pushes for an ammunition register, limits on how much ammo you can own, and rules that you can only buy ammo for the calibres registered to your name. Imagine heading to a hunt and wanting to grab a pack of ammo for a mate who shoots a different calibre; you’d be out of luck. This does nothing for public safety, but it won’t matter; the public doesn’t care, and it’s an easy headline for politicians to push who want to look tough on crime.

Check their posts yourself: they want numerical limits, treating every hunter as a potential risk rather than recognising our role in conservation and pest control. For hunters, this isn’t just policy, it’s personal. Many of us need different firearms for different game: a .22 for rabbits and possums, a .223 for goats, a .308 for deer, a 7mm PRC for long-range tahr, a shotgun for ducks or upland birds, maybe a lever-action for up-close wild pigs in thick cover. Limits could force you to sell off gear, restrict your hunting across seasons or terrains, and even break family traditions where firearms are passed down. Add ammo restrictions that we found in the Gun Control NZ constitution, and you’re stuck scrambling to match registered calibres or unable to share with hunting buddies, making group trips a logistical nightmare.

Think it can’t happen here?

Look at Western Australia, where recent laws restrict recreational hunters to just five firearms, no matter the need. Farmers or target shooters might get up to 10, but hunters? Stuck at five, with no room for backups, heirlooms or specialised set-ups. This has sparked outrage among WA’s hunting community, with reports of confusion, reduced access to grounds, and fears it’s just the start. If similar limits hit New Zealand, alongside ammo restrictions, say goodbye to building a practical collection tailored to our diverse landscapes, from the Southern Alps to the North Island forests, and to the flexibility of grabbing ammo for a mate on the way to a hunt.

Some might say, “With Nicole McKee as Minister, this won’t happen,” or “New Zealanders won’t support it.” But an election is coming next year. What if Ginny Andersen or someone like Chris Cahill takes over – someone aligned with anti-gun groups?

Remember a small number of us fought the firearm register with evidence of its failures worldwide, yet it’s here now. We lost that fight because less than 20% of licensed firearm owners gave a damn. Now? We’re all burdened with extra costs that will soon be passed onto us via licensing fees, hour-long wait times to transfer firearms on the phone, and paperwork. The public? Most don’t hunt and are easily swayed by media soundbites from a vocal minority exploiting tragedies like Christchurch. Without resistance, these limits could slide through, forcing hunters to sell firearms, cut back on trips, limit ammo stocks and watch our sport dwindle.

Hunters often think, “It won’t affect my backcountry trips,” but history proves otherwise. These restrictions would hit us all: fewer options for pest control, higher compliance costs, less flexibility to help mates, and a damper on the camaraderie of the hunt. We need to stand together now before it’s too late.

That’s why I’m urging every hunter reading this: JOIN COLFO today or donate, even if just for the next 12 months. Your support will equip us to fight back, ensuring the new Arms Act is fit and proper, safeguarding public safety without gutting our rights.

Head to www.colfo.org.nz to sign up for as little as $28.75 or donate what you can. Together, we can protect our hunts, our heritage and our future in the field. Don’t wait, act now!