Cory interjects

For those of you wondering if we felt the earthquake last Saturday, we did not. However, we will probably have another chance to feel one while we’re here. As you may already know New Zealand lies over the boundary between the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates. The collision of these plates has been occurring for over 25 million years and has resulted in many of the land masses that make New Zealand so breathtaking. Earthquakes are the natural byproduct of this process and there is no shortage here with roughly14,000 earthquakes recorded annually. Only about 100 of these are strong enough to be felt. This process along with the volcanic activity continues to change the face of New Zealand; in fact, every year Auckland moves about 5 cm east relative to Christchurch. While this may seem worrisome, to us it has been an adventure that we have never quite experienced before – hot sand beaches, dormant volcanoes, geysers, mud pools, etc.
What is somewhat worrisome, or maybe just eccentric, is my friend Allen. Allen is a man of many talents including biking, kayaking, skateboarding, etc. He was an integral part in our bike selection process, and he ridicules me whenever I back down on my previous claim of riding to work every day. While having lunch at his home this past weekend with his lovely wife Deb, daughter Nina, and new arrival Levi, Allen displayed his collection of homemade neckties. He constructed these during his 3rd and 4th years of medical school to try and make a buck. Designs range from the “animal pelt line” to those that may cause a seizure if worn in public. Supposedly he sold six for $30 a piece.
In addition to Allen’s bizarre talents, he also seems to have some bizarre beliefs about Americans, most of which have been gleaned from watching Southpark reruns. At our last evening out, Allen we quite keen to show me his gun collection. He reckoned that since every American owned a gun that I would love to see his collection. I suppose I do own two guns but that is beside the point. He also assumed that Americans walk around with our guns and say things like, “I’m gonna bust a cap into your ASS.” While owning a gun in the US is rather easy to do, gun ownership in New Zealand is an entirely different story. Below is a short summary (in bold) of the process that I copied from the web.

The starting point of gun ownership in New Zealand is to apply to the New Zealand Police for a firearms license. You are given a book to read about firearm safety, and required to attend a four hour orientation session at the local police station. A variety of long arms are shown and explained ("this is what a rifle looks like when it has been fired with dirt in the barrel") and a 30 question test is administered, based upon the information just presented. The passing score is 28 and if you miss any of the seven questions about basic principles of safety, you are not passed. Before you are granted the arms license (which looks like a driver's license including your picture) the arms officer visits your home and makes sure you have a secure place to house the guns. In the case of regular long-arms (rifles/shotguns) you would need a lockable cabinet or closet-- somewhere that the guns are out of sight and are not easily accessible. The ammunition must be stored in another lockable location. Aside from requiring references, those living in the house are interviewed to make sure that they are OK about having weapons in the house. If you pass all these requirements, you are then issued an "A" endorsed license (for a fee of $123.75 good for ten years). This license allows you to purchase both long arms and the ammunition for them.
To purchase pistols, you must meet a second set of criteria. First, you must join a pistol club that is a member of the New Zealand Pistol Association (Pistol New Zealand). You must shoot with that club at least 12 times in six months and take part in general club activity. Usually, you will be shooting with a pistol that is owned by the club and held by the club's armorer. After this six month period, the club can recommend to the police that you be allowed a "B" endorsement on your license. At which point, more references are required, your family is interviewed again, and background checks are made. You are required to store pistols in a "secure" strongroom or safe. A safe should be should be installed in a non-conspicuous place (like a closet), and must be made from a minimum of 6mm steel. The door must fit flush, and not be able to be pried off. It is lockable by a 5-lever deadbolt, or a hardened lock and hasp. The safe door must not be able to be opened if the hinges were to be removed. The safe is to be bolted to both the floor and wall, and the bolt-heads must be inside the safe. If the floor is on wooden joists, then the safe must span two joists and be bolted through a steel plate which exceeds the floor area of the safe. The safe is then inspected by the arms officer. All windows in the house are to be lockable. The main doors must have deadbolts. An alarm system is recommended. When all these requirements are met, the "B" endorsement is issued. Each additional endorsement requires a fee of $200 be paid. The endorsement remains in effect as along as you have a firearms license. To then purchase a pistol, you make the purchase at the gun store (showing your "B" license), and you get a receipt for the gun. You then take the receipt to your gun club and have the "pink slip" made out that certifies you are purchasing a gun to be used at the club. You then take the pink slip to the local police arms officer who issues a permit to purchase. You take this to the store, pick up the gun, and bring it back to the police who verify that all the serial numbers match. Then you take it home and put it in your safe. You can transport it (in a locked box) only to and from the range or to and from a gun dealer or gunsmith. You are allowed to have 12 working pistols on your "B" license. To maintain your "B" license you must shoot with the club a minimum of 12 times a year. There are 83 pistol clubs in NZ with a total of 2,350 members.

“Why would Allen need a rifle in New Zealand?” you might ask. Well, to shoot things. It seems that if it moves and you can’t eat it, shear it, or sell it, then it probably should be shot, at least on the South Island. In fact, we were horrified to find out about the annual Great Alexandra Easter Bunny Hunt held in Central Otago. In New Zealand, friendly bunnies like Scout and Radley (our previous pet rabbits) are not well liked. They tend to do what rabbits do – eat, dig, and reproduce. Without predatory species things get out of hand and whole crop fields can be destroyed in no time by thousands of rabbits. Here is where Allen and company come in. Each Easter, teams of 12 are allotted a block of land throughout the Central Otago region in which to hunt for a 24 hour period. Cash prizes and trophies are awarded for the most rabbits exterminated. In addition, special categories for the best equipped shooting vehicle are awarded. This year hunters shot 15,524 rabbits, 490 hares, seven possums, 44 stoats (like a weasel) and 13 ‘‘others'', which included turkeys and magpies. Shortly after hearing about the Easter bunny hunt, Allen told us about the wonderful pet rat he used to have. Things sure are different down here!