Southern District ready for prohibited gun buyback

Thursday, 18 July 2019

The first of many gun buy-backs started at Riccarton Racecourse Christchurch last weekend.

Otago is the latest province targeted for prohibited firearms collection.

The Taieri Rugby Football Club in Mosgiel will kick-off a series of buybacks across Southern police district, when its doors open on Friday at 10am.

Christchurch hosted the first gun buybacks last week.

The collection events will continue at Dunedin's Kensington Army Hall on Saturday and Sunday, from 10am-4pm.

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Southern District Police commander Paul Basham said police wanted to ensure the changes were as easy to navigate as possible.

'Ultimately we hope to never again see the kind of harm that we know these types of firearms are capable of causing.'

Anyone with more than 10 firearms, or those with firearms able to be modified to make then legal, were urged not to come to a collection event and instead complete an online notification form at www.police.govt.nz.

Owners were also instructed to remove ammunition from firearms, and put them and any parts into a safe carry bag.

The first of 258 nationwide buy-back events was held in Canterbury last weekend.

A total of 542 prohibited firearms and 578 parts and accessories were handed in over two days. It was estimated that more than $1m would be paid out as compensation following the event.

Police will run collection events until the amnesty period ends on December 20.

The last collection scheduled for the Southern District is at the Marakura Yacht Club,Te Anau on September 22.

HOW TO HAND IN YOUR GUN AT A COLLECTION EVENT:

- Complete the online form on the police website

- Clear the firearm of all ammunition and put it and any parts in a safe carry bag

- Bring the following items to the event: your firearms licence (if applicable), photo identification (driver licence or passport), bank account number, online notification reference number, all prohibited parts (cleared of all ammunition), and any other non-prohibited firearms or parts you wish to hand in to police.