Authorities call for responsible firearm handling during the Roar

With the 2026 Roar underway, New Zealand hunters are being urged to stay safe and handle firearms responsibly.

In a recent police media release, Firearms Safety Authority director of communities and corporate Mike McIlraith says there can be “catastrophic” consequences if targets are not identified “beyond all doubt.”

“Our message to hunters is a really simple one: If you are not sure, then don’t shoot,” says McIlraith.

New Zealand Mountain Safety Council operations manager Nathan Watson says: “In the case of hunting during the Roar, slowing down . . . having a 'hmmm' and taking a moment, is really valuable and important.”

During the Roar, hunters go into back country New Zealand to hunt male stags of the red deer species from the beginning of March through to the end of April.

Between 50,000 and 60,000 New Zealanders annually take part in game hunting.

Hunting fatalities have been steadily decreasing over the past 10 years, with a five-year average of 1.4 deaths a year according to data by the Mountain Safety Council.

Research also shows the largest firearm-related risk for hunters is misidentifying the target and 80 per cent of the time firearm deaths involve members of the same hunting group.

"Look after your mates and know where they are at all times. Communicate with each other before you go, while you're out and when you get back,” says Watson.

“Just be really mindful of where everyone is when you're using a firearm."

When out hunting, 19-year-old Ezra Coyle says he makes decisions with the safety of others and himself in mind.

"I always wear some sort of bright clothing . . . like orange or bright blue . . . because deer can't see colour, but it stands out so much to humans.

“You can see someone wearing orange from kilometres away, and it just helps you to know that they're there."

Coyle learnt how to hunt safely through the seven rules of firearm safety and going out with experienced hunters to pick up their good habits.

"I'm pretty careful about who I go hunting with. I'll go if I think they're a safe hunter, and they've had their gun license for a while, that sort of thing," he says.

Coyle says the Roar can impact how hunters behave in back country New Zealand, "Because it’s the Roar, people just get trigger happy, and they sort of get . . . tunnel vision."

The Firearms Safety Authority is urging hunters to remain vigilant and responsible.

“Making sure everyone gets home in one piece, still must be the most important goal of every trip,” says McIlraigth.

“No meat or no trophy is better than no mate.”

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AI was not used in the creation of this story.