Our Mission:
Promote the development and maintenance of firearm safety standards in New Zealand to enable people to enjoy the safe use of firearms by fostering community support for firearm safety
About Us
The formation of the FSC in 2016 was motivated by the deep concern of firearms organisations for continued community safety and firearm user safety training. If the Firearms Safety Council had a by-line it would be: NO RETURN TO 1969.
In the first New Zealand Arms Code, published in 1969, the Commissioner of Police of the day noted a non-intentional (not criminal, not suicide) death or injury with firearms on a weekly basis, with one event a month happening in the home environment, often involving children.
From 1969 to 2016 this reduced to about 10 non-intentional deaths or injuries with a firearm in a year, and an incident in the home, and especially with children involved is almost non-existent – with just 3 or 4 cases in the last 20 years to 2018.
Firearms user groups in this country do not want to see a return to the 1969 situation, hence the Firearms safety Council of Aotearoa New Zealand as a stand-alone body whose primary focus is SAFETY. In effect, firearms user groups are taking ownership for firearms safety.
Objectives
The objectives of the Council are:
To provide advice to government agencies and other organisations, such as the media, on firearms safety related matters.
To undertake research which will help set and promote firearms safety standards for individuals and organisations engaged in firearms related activities.
To gain adequate FSCANZ representation, where desirable, on such public bodies or organisations nationally and internationally whose functions are deemed important to or affecting the Council.
To provide publications, technical information and other material that will promote safety and self-reliance in all shooting activities.
To promote and offer support for the delivery of community based educational courses on firearms safety.
To promote and encourage suitable candidates to become firearm safety instructors.
To promote and support nationally recognised standards/qualifications for firearm safety instruction.
To do other things as may be necessary, incidental or conducive to the attainment of the Council’s objectives.
Committee Members
Rachael Dean MNZN
· Rachael grew up in the South Island High Country where firearms were a tool of the trade and in the distant past, hunted. She is a current holder of serval endorsements.
· Rachael also held a gun licence in the UK for many years and was a partner in a firearms related business that required a strong focus on safety and good relationships with County police responsible for firearms. In New Zealand she is a partner in a business supplying blank ammunition and theatrical armourer services.
· In 2020 Rachael was appointed by the Minister to her second term on the NZ Game Animal Council. Original appointment commenced in 2017.
· Rachael shoots fixed target rifle, service rifle and is a past pistol shooter. She is currently Treasurer of Wairarapa Pistol & Shooting Sport Club. Prior to that she was Secretary/ Treasurer of Otorohanga Rifle Club. She is also a member of Antique Arms; Sporting Shooters NZ , New Zealand Service Rifle Association and is an independent member of New Zealand Council of Licensed Firearms Owners Inc..
· Rachael was the rural representative on Police Firearms Community Advisory Forum (“FCAF”) from 2016 to 2018 and the spokesperson for Rural Women New Zealand on firearms matters. Work included preparing press releases, being the contact point for media, meeting with MPs and writing and presenting submissions to select committees.
· Rachael was a member of the Police Sub-committee on the review of Firearms Storage Security in 2017 and 2018.
· Rachael was a member of the Ministry of Education, Schools Health and Safety Sector Reference Group on firearms in schools in 2018.
· Rachael’s professional qualifications include: Chartered Accountant; Certified Internal Auditor and Certified Fraud Examiner. She is also a member of the Institute of Directors.
· Rachael has a diverse range of governance experience including as Chair. She was honoured in 2019 by being made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of her services to governance and community. She was also honoured in 2018 by being selected as one of the 125 women chosen for the Waikato125 project that is, one of 125 Waikato women who have been instrumental in leading and driving change for women.
William (Bill) O’Leary
Born in Hamilton but raised in Greymouth with early exposure to fishing and white baiting. Completed my secondary schooling in Christchurch and a MA at Canterbury University. By this stage I was heavily into duck shooting and hunting in Reefton, the Lewis and South Westland.
Trained as a secondary school teacher and taught in Marlborough and Nelson with a growing involvement in outdoor education which included delivering young hunter courses within the school curriculum and in association with New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association (NZDA) and Fish and Game.
In 1999 I joined the National Executive of NZDA (til 2002) with the HUNTS portfolio and the task of delivering a training pathway and qualification for instructors. This entailed collaboration with Mountain Safety Council, NZ Police, Fish and Game New Zealand and with Whitireia Community Polytechnic. Contact with the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) resulted in useful information from hunter education programs in other parts of the world. I have held the office of HUNTS National Coordinator from 2000 to 2015. Another appointment was as a NZDA Range Certifying Officer. In 2007 I was awarded a National Life Membership. I have just finished a term as councillor on the new Game Animal Council having served on the Establishment committee since 2008. Currently I represent NZDA on the National Recreation Forum and DOC’s Visitor Safety Reference Group and am a member of the Molesworth Management Advisory Committee.
In my spare time I have supported Nelson Marlborough Fish and Game as a Councillor and as an honorary ranger. I am still an active hunter and involved with NZDA’s Nelson branch as a committee member having served eight years as branch president.
In 2012 I was elected back on to the National Executive of NZDA as the National Vice President and in 2014 as the National President.
I am a firm believer that the NZDA’s future demands forward looking policies, collaboration with other groups and building relationships where ever possible.
I am a firm believer that the NZDA’s policy is determined at Conference with leadership and sound governance expected of National Executive.
Joe Green
From 1983 till 2016 I was a sworn member of Police, retiring from Police in 2016 at the rank of Inspector. Between 1998 and 2012 I was the Manager Licencing and Vetting, and then I relieved the Arms Control position until March 2013. As Manager Licensing and Vetting I had national responsibility for the coordination of arms control. Part of my role involved policy, legislation and practice of firearms control and licencing.
Except for a few brief months following my transfer I am the last permanent appointee to the arms control position in NZ Police.
I was on the delegation for two UN seminars: one a regional seminar in Fiji, the other, in 2006, a two- week meeting at New York on the Programme of Action on the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons. I also advised the Law and Order Select Committee on arms amendments and represented Police in media relating to the safe use and control of firearms at a national level. I am a member of the international reference group for the development of the UN International Standards for Arms Control. I am also a certified range inspecting officer and have trained as a range conducting officer with NZ Deerstalkers Association.
I am warranted as a Firearms Safety Instructor by NZ Police.
I have published research into incidents in which one deer hunter shot and killed another.
I hold a current New Zealand Firearms Licence.
I am currently a Lay Pastoral Leader with the Catholic Church, based in Wellington South.
Phil Cregeen
Treasurer for FSCANZ – Now retired Phil spent his working life as a Royal Navy Nuclear Submarine Engineer and in NZ as a Marine Electrician.
He settled in New Zealand in 1994 after sailing his own home built yacht here from England. From an early age he has had an interest in firearms and shooting.
He has served as Secretary of Northland Branch of the Sporting Shooters Association of New Zealand since 2000 and was elected SSANZ National Secretary in 2014. He has previously served two years as National Secretary/Treasurer of the New Zealand Antique & Historical Arms Association and is currently the Editor. Phil has served for 12 years as a voluntary Firearms Safety Instructor and local area co-ordinator and has served on the Board of COLFO since 2013. He was made an Honorary Fellow of the NZ Society of Gunsmiths for his contribution to NZ Firearm historical research.
Phil lives in Northland with his wife Pam and two dogs and does his shooting with the Military wing of the Northland Black Powder Club.
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Contact Us
Please feel free to contact us, you may do so via the message form or our postal address and contact phone number are listed below.
We welcome any organisation or individual who has an interest in promoting the safe use of firearms.