Thread: Seeking help with setting up a shooting range in West Auckland

Hi everyone, posting on behalf of a friend who owns a farm out west. He’d like to set up a commercial shooting range and is seeking a consultant with experience and knowledge. Appreciate any suggestions and referrals. Feel free to contact Ian on 0211102229 if you’re interested.

Enquire through your local NZDA, NRA or shotgun range operators.
GPM.

If your mate goes to a few shooting ranges around, he might be able to get their shooting templates and that will save him a lot of time and money in consulting fees.
On top of my head, the ranges he could visit are Waikato rifles near hamîlton, tokoroa, teck park near Tauranga, Nelson and I have been told Timaru has a pretty good range as well.

Better still download a copy of the NZ Police Shooting Range Manual from the internet. This has the range templates, cones of fire and the options for the various range types. Assuming we are talking about rifles here the options are Reduced Danger Area and No Danger Area. The requirements for these are well spelt out in the Manual.
GPM.

I'd add waitamata and Auckland met to that list for shotgun, clevedon for rifle and waiuku pistol club for multi discipline to friwis list. Also reading of the police range manual would also be a useful start. The process is likely to be long and slow, however with changes being made to section 6 if the arms act covering clubs and ranges before select committee at present waiting to see what eventuates may be prudent.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

I'd add waitamata and Auckland met to that list for shotgun, clevedon for rifle and waiuku pistol club for multi discipline to friwis list. Also reading of the police range manual would also be a useful start. The process is likely to be long and slow, however with changes being made to section 6 if the arms act covering clubs and ranges before select committee at present waiting to see what eventuates may be prudent.

this ^. If it's a commercial venture then it could require resource consent from the council. expensive.

20k at least ? There might also be some sort of ecological impact report/ pollution limitation plan to be produced…etc

As a Westie myself that’d be awesome if there was a range out west

Whatever happened to the complex built out that way that ran up against a Buddhist "retreat" a heap of locals as well as council. There may be be a lesson to learn from that .

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Whatever happened to the complex built out that way that ran up against a Buddhist "retreat" a heap of locals as well as council. There may be be a lesson to learn from that .

That is further up at Makarau

@Beaker may have some insight as he had involvement with the Timaru range sometime back.

There are two paths to follow.

Resource consenting from the local council. Speaking with a council planner may identify areas that need to be addressed.

Range consenting. Firearms Safety Authority should be (but may not be) the place to ask.

You could also initiate an inquiry here ClubsAndRanges@police.govt.nz

Originally Posted by Rushy

@Beaker may have some insight as he had involvement with the Timaru range sometime back.

Range design and certification, yes a few ideas.
Didn't need to do much on the RMA due to some bylaws. ( council had a duty to have a public rifle range, council owned land, etc..)

The range design manual is the place to start.

And find someone that's good with CAD plus a survey of the land. (Easy to prove safe design, or do what ifs before moving dirt or building stuff)

Greeting again,
One thing to be considered early on is. Does the land in question have the capability of containing a range? A reduced danger area range requires a lot of land with specific topography and a no danger area range can be eye wateringly expensive to construct and maintain so a clear eyed walk around with the Range Manual in hand should be the first step. Wishful thinking just does not cut it.
Regards Grandpamac.