Thread: Hangawera whats going on?

Just read something about this shoot now needing a resource consent? and probably being canned as a result, the piece in g&h was vague on detail. Does anyone know what this is about, and is it likely to affect things like the gong shoots that lots of people hold now.

Yep it looks like it won't be happening. Hangawera owners are now paranoid about H&S with the new regs in place so don't want to have the event on the farm. For it to be sanctioned the MPDC are requiring consents to be obtained at a huge cost $$$.
Harry was looking for another venue but so far unsuccessful.
A real shame indeed.

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@blake did something change? My understanding was it had nothing to do with H&S

It's what has been reported by our local paper and what I've been told by Harry's neighbors and friends.

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H&S is a handy smoke screen to hide behind at times......

Not suggesting that is the case here but it's used when there's a hidden agenda.

Just saying.

B

ok, so my understanding was that after a complaint, the council inspected the site and decreed that it was a change in land use and therefore required a consent to operate (land use change from farming to shooting). IMO, the council have declined to use any common sense in realising that the ~$10k+ consent application and investigation fee is grossly disproportionate compared to the amount of time the range is used and that is still part of the farm.

Not sure what can be done or who could be talked with to get the council to review their decision about resource consent? Mayor? Local MP? The range was set up by and is organised by volunteers and isn't a commercial entity. The range at Hangawera is a great place to shoot but is not used that often (and not anymore since the council have required consent) - I will be quite disappointed to see it close.

As above my understanding is that H&S had nothing to do with it and that the station owners and manager are quite happy having it there - in fact they have been incredibly supportive.

Of course, I am not involved at all and so all of the above reflects my opinion and not necessarily fact. With that in mind if someone reads this that has a good idea on how to deal with the council about this or wants to help out then get in touch and I can put you in touch with Harry.

Thats a bit clearer now, so a complaint starts this crap? How about a couple of hundred supportive letters would that help? Sounds like the usual lack of common sense. Land use change ha ha, is the whole farm now a rifle range. Trouble is councils dont like to be proved wrong and have lots of ratepayers money to spend to prove it. Perhaps an appeal to the local mp asking for clarification on this interpretetion would be a good start, especially if the owners are supportive.

@Marty Henry, to answer your question about the effect on other gong shoots - IMO, no it should not. I think you can put this request for resource consent in the same boat as asking for resource consent to have a horse trek or trail bike ride through a farm - in other words I think it is ludicrous. Of course my opinion doesn't define how a local council works either

I think it may have been the reasonably permanent facilities and range infrastructure at Hangawera that formed the basis for the council decision. Again I am not involved at all and that is simply conjecture.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Thats a bit clearer now, so a complaint starts this crap? How about a couple of hundred supportive letters would that help? Sounds like the usual lack of common sense. Land use change ha ha, is the whole farm now a rifle range. Trouble is councils dont like to be proved wrong and have lots of ratepayers money to spend to prove it. Perhaps an appeal to the local mp asking for clarification on this interpretetion would be a good start, especially if the owners are supportive.

Yep, you've hit it on the head there I think I am not certain about how it started but my belief is it was an unfounded complaint.

How many people turn up to the shoot, do they stay in the district? Do they buy things in the district? Might help to be able to go back to the council with the economic benefits of the shoot.

Is it just the well organized shoot that is now cancelled, or is no shooting allowed to take place on the range?

as soon as the organisation of a shoot start to become a bit official, with club members ,structures, rules and a bit of money involved, you get nailed by the bloody administration.
I shot a few times there, but I thought ( maybe wrongly) , that 10 years ago Harry was solely authorised to shoot there and for any body else it was only by his invitation and his good will, which was fair enough I think.

I guess, keeping it casual and discreet could have helped the cause, and too bad if only a lucky few can benefit from the range...

The only way to beat council is by using councils own grant money for community based activities. It's all there on the Waikato council website. Rob Peter to pay Paul.

Its all about the money??

I am not sure if it is no competitions or no shooting at all allowed now.

I am also not sure if there is a limitation on how long something needs to be there to make the consent requirements pointless. There has been shooting at this location for a long time now (easily more than 10 years) and now it requires a consent?