NZ Police WEAPONS - Reply To OIA Request:

When I learned that our Aussie-Cuzzies were currently the worlds fourth biggest importers of military hardware - it did raise my eyebrows a bit .. but I did already know that they were buying & deploying hi-tech drones:

These six Australian Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Drones can stay airborne for 24 hours - which is reasonable performance for the 7 BILLION DOLLARS that their cost is currently settling-to.

I do realise that New Zealand isn't currently planning to match this purchase .. but our P3 Orion marine patrol planes will soon need replacing & upgrading - just like the Aussie ones.

Governments do seem always to find enough tax dollars for their "Defence" spending - even in the tough times.  Consider "Austerity England" where they are lashing-out 100 Million EACH for a few VTOL planes to park below decks on their 6.2 BILLION POUND two new giant diesel-electric Aircraft Carriers.

This sort of spending .. when combined with our local ARMS PROHIBITIONS made me curious - so I specifically asked our POLICE - under the Official Information Act - just what they had in the various types of weapons .. and to my surprise, - they supplied answers:

Superintendent Andrew Sissons of the NZ POLICE states that they have :

3,021 x GLOCK PISTOLS.

2,913 x AR15 (TYPE) MSSA RIFLES.

53 x Semi-Automatic MARKSMAN RIFLES.

10 x Bolt Action MARKSMAN RIFLES.

74 x Firearms Capable Of Fully Automatic Fire - SUB-MACHINE GUNS.

40 x 40mm GRENADE LAUNCHERS - for use with GAS GRENADES & SPONGE ROUNDS

____________________________________

- So it's somewhat reassuring that they have records of their purchases - as I was rather hoping that they might prevaricate & say that they hadn't counted them lately eh.

There is an issue here regarding police training with these arms. where & how frequently do sworn officers train for the safe use of their grenade launchers? - A further question might arise regarding the secure storage of these weapons - are they kept in certified safes or strongrooms that comply with current legislation?

This weapons list should be made known to the kiwi public. - Most people around seem to think that our "clean & green land" is some kind of blue-green paradise with sheep covered rock-candy mountains and jolly unarmed police.

I had one friend say how our Government was "peace loving and anti-killing" .. until I asked him why then do we train soldiers to kill efficiently and then give them medals and promotions when they prove good at it?

SAS Corporal Willie Apiata V.C.

12,000 Police:  4,705 Army: Air Force 2,525: 2,244 Navy ( 9,474 Total DEFENCE FORCES).

.. So we have fewer total military than police - While we definitely need more police .. that's interesting eh.

We need to amend public delusions with some FACTS .. and reshape their perceptions into TRUTHS.

COLFO are actively working to restore the public image of licensed NZ shooters by consulting with both a team of Lawyers and Public Relations Consultants - BlacklandPR. 

- This will not come cheaply .. please join the struggle to preserve shooters rights by donating to COLFO's 'FAIR & REASONABLE CAMPAIGN'.

Quote: “Politics is now a professionalised game, with a major speciality being digging dirt. Politics has always been a dog fight but underhand denigration of your opponent is now considered part of the job description; it makes up for absence of real policy differences.

“Career politicians find it easier to be against something than for it – so it is essential to demonise your opponents,” Mark Blackham (of BlacklandPR) said.

Marty K.