NZ Theatrical Armorers Guild contact page

Maybe just maybe some good news.
It seems “Theatrical” may be getting dedicated team support out of a new Police centre in Palmerston North with people on it that actually want to make it all work.
Still a ways off knowing what the final format will be and the long awaited final regs but I think there is just a chance our efforts will pay off and we will actually have a better system than before.
Will update as always when there is news worth knowing.
Shalom

What you must record in the Fi****ms Registry | Fi****ms Safety Authority You must tell us whether you have any fi****ms, restricted weapons, major firearm parts, prohibited magazines or pistol carbine conversion kits in your possession. What arms items must be registered From 24 June 2023, all fi****ms licence holders are required to register arms items in their possessi...

Registration of Gun Parts. If you recieved the original Police instructions for registration of fi****ms and parts this week you will have been left uncertain about what "Major" parts actually means. Overnight I have got them to narrow it and put up the three things only you need to register as parts.

What you must record in the Fi****ms Registry | Fi****ms Safety Authority You must tell us whether you have any fi****ms, restricted weapons, major firearm parts, prohibited magazines or pistol carbine conversion kits in your possession. What arms items must be registered From 24 June 2023, all fi****ms licence holders are required to register arms items in their possessi...

Update: Well if frustration was worth money I would be loaded :-( The Key man who had created almost to completion the awaited new regs has been hijacked to get the new Arms registry up and running ( a pointless task as no registry ever in history made the slightest difference to crime) and his replacement (supposed) has unhelpfully left the job altogether. When questioned about when a $1.4B industry might have its regulations senior Police answered "we are progressively bringing on new people, changing systems, and improving processes. I am confident that in the medium term we will be well placed to deliver effective regulatory services". So ladies and gentlemen we will have to wait till the medium term which appears to be entirely unknown in terms of actual time. In the meanwhile each Arms office continues to have its own ideas about what is required and contradict each other daily. Nothing the Guild can do except wade thru each event one by one till we get the approval from whatever version we face each time. It is of course a very poor show and it is now hard to know what will finaly emerge - we will do our best until we know better and cross fingers we dont all just give up given the treat of totally unsustainable fees which zero of the proffesional armourers could survive. The possibility that no armourers will remain and so it becomes impossible to comply with the Act for film making is real. Alas the politicians seem set on ideology over reality and so far we have not seen any real appreciation of the risk to the ability to do big budget film or stage work when so much of that has gunfire in it. In case you think replicas are ok just remember even rubber guns have to be cast off real ones and where would they be found? It is worth remembering that a blank is far cheaper than any decent CGI gunshot and in HD far more believable so if production value matters to you dont think this isnt serious. Anyway, me complaining will achieve nothing. Make sure you talk and vote with your best industry interests at heart next time else if it all goes you will have to own some of the responsibility for it. Let your MPs know what's at stake.

UPDATE: Frustratingly the Key people in Police who were supposed to have our regulations settled and new forms approved have been diverted to some other priority and now strangers have taken their place. No idea anymore what stage all this is at anymore, so unbelievably frustrating. Mind you if the proposed fee structure goes ahead none of the professional armourers will be able to continue as it is impossibly expensive to comply so if you dont want an industry that cannot make an Avatar or Mission Impossible because we wont be able to have any sort of fi****ms on set , strictly speaking that is likely to include Airsoft and possibly replicas since all that probably needs (depends on how the final regulation goes to print) a fully licenced Armourer and there simply wont be any... well make sure your local MP knows about it and votes down the proposed fee structure. If every firearm owner all 250000 of them just paid $100 a year thats all they need to run the new authority but the Act has to have a minor amendment to allow it. At this stage we are expecting to close down for good as we dont see anyone taking it as seriously as it is as a threat to the industry. Time will reveal it

Good meeting today helping refine what will be the documents needed for events and lisence endorsements. Now way shorter and clearer so good progress. Alas it's got a few steps to go through the regulatory process so best guess is some sort of roll out maybe 3 months away but no gtee as it's in a que. Once ready we will develop an industry guide in plain language so that you have simple ability to know what to do and when you will have to engage a lisenced armourer, things like that and how to manage the paperwork. Wont be too hard but we will all have to be compliant to keep the edge NZ has over the like of Aussie to have bigger projects come here when they want real guns etc that are very much harder to do elsewhere. Working hard on this for you all though actually thinking of retirement once it's done. Be safe, make great content 👍

Going to a meeting at Police HQ tomorrow to review the draft forms to event approval etc and discuss some other points.... It looks like we are getting close to having the actual new process and regs live. Will update when I am allowed to ( ie dont ask me for details, I am not at liberty to talk about things that are still in draft and could change) . Anyway, the long wait may soon be over.

My Police partners have let me know that drafts for approval of the various forms that will be required for theatrical fi****ms events and the regulations around it should be ready to go before senior Police for sign off any time now. It has been a long wait and I dont know what changes might have come in since we last met to go thru it all so fingers crossed etc.. Am expecting to be called in again to see the final version and talk about how to create a workbook film and theatre people can follow as well as Arms Officers so everyone is on the same page. God willing not too much longer now. Shalom ; Waka

UPDATE Spent the weekend going over the latest version of paperwork coming from Police to provide for authorisation for Theatrical Fi****ms use and some associated paperwork around gaining the associated licences etc. Starting to migrate to the standard Police document format but reasonably faithful to the "use in the meantime" form we circulated a month or so ago. One possible change is that Living History society members may end up with a different version tweaked to accommodate what they do and those doing Stage or Film/TV work involving crew and other less fi****ms experienced people + the extra safety aspects that come with how a set works will have their own version tweaked to focus on that. Both versions essentially working the same way and not very complex to complete if you are organised. Frankly if you are not organised you are probably in the wrong occupation anyway. So it will still be a little while before we see the final versions and rule book emerge but its definitely progressing. If anyone out there is also working on any fi****ms related safety manual work please email me [email protected] as it is possible we will be able to help ensure the final manual is industry driveable and so anyone work that can help with input to that please hook up with Waka via that email as he has the relationship with NZ Police and
Policy teams and can make sure anything helpful gets seen and heard. Meantime do understand that a fundamental change will be a shift to Police controlling whats allowed and who can do it far more than under the old system where the industry largely decided and the old "Blue book" ( which was frankly very very light on detail) was the reference. As it stands for now, the Arms Manual section for Theatrical Arms use will instead be much more instructive and of course the law with little wiggle room - hence the thousands of hours we have spent already in consultation to make sure industry and hobby creators can still make great content safely . Thats all for now.. more when there is more to share ( Pic is an old one from one of our jobs)

https://www.thebigidea.nz/stories/could-on-set-shooting-tragedy-happen-in-nz The original post that the News article quotes

Could On Set Shooting Tragedy Happen in NZ? In the wake of the heartbreaking accident filming Rust in New Mexico, The Big Idea investigates how the NZ screen industry handles weapons and the importance of an armourer to production safety.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2021/10/could-an-on-set-tragedy-like-alec-baldwin-s-rust-shooting-happen-in-new-zealand.html

Could an on-set tragedy like Alec Baldwin's Rust shooting happen in New Zealand? Hard questions are being asked about movie industry safety in the wake of the fatal accident.

Worth a read

Could an on-set tragedy like Alec Baldwin's Rust shooting happen in New Zealand? Hard questions are being asked about movie industry safety in the wake of the fatal accident.

Could an on-set tragedy like Alec Baldwin's Rust shooting happen in New Zealand? Hard questions are being asked about movie industry safety in the wake of the fatal accident.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-10-22/alec-baldwin-rust-camera-crew-walked-off-set The latest seems to confirm what we have been saying.. Industry has to realise we have regs and standards for a reason

'Rust' crew describes on-set gun safety issues and misfires days before fatal shooting At least one of the camera operators complained last weekend to production managers about gun safety on the set.

https://www.1news.co.nz/2021/10/23/911-call-from-baldwin-film-set-shooting-released/ this is now clearly worse and worse...

1. What is any AD doing playing armourer! No doubt the standard of process on set that allowed the armourer to be bypassed is unforgivable.

2. Worse is the armourer themselves leaving any loaded weapon sitting anywhere uncontrolled by them

3. But beyond belief is the apparent acceptance that a " hot gun" might have actual rounds in it anyplace on set!! This part is beyond stupidity and I think confirms the whole set up was not safe or professional an any sense. My hunch is the armourer will turn out to not actually be one by any reasonable definition but time will reveal it.

Thank God NZ has better people to use and new regulations already pending to keep things sharp. Industry attitude of course is what's needed first and last..
Dont hire your mate hire the people who Police recognize as knowing what they are doing. Simple.

911 call from Baldwin film set shooting released Script supervisor Naomi Mitchell called emergency services after the accident.

By now you will have heard about the shooting death and injury on the set of "Rust" in the USA . Mr Baldwin seems to have picked up a prop gun and was surprised to have it fire. One crew dead another in hospital. The police are still investigating but industry tells us the gun seems to have been left with a real round in it not a blank. If that's true once its confirmed that is an appalling example of what happens when you don't use proper armourers as

1. Its illegal and entirely insane to have any non blank ammo on set or even in the truck. If you need to film a complete round we make inert prop ones !!!

2. He should never have been able to just have the gun unless it's been checked safe and handed to him by the armourers who show you exactly what state it's in.

This is tragic but frankly makes me angry that such a completely avoidable situation even arose.

Hire professionals.. it's not as easy to be what we are as people think because it's this sort of detail that cannot be skipped or people get hurt or worse.

God have mercy but please learn to do things right. We have to wait for the official word but regardless this is a signal to not cut corners.

Good morning all

As already communicated the changes in the Arms Act that affect the use of theatrical fi****ms are already now "live" but the exact bright lines as to where things apply remain obscured due to the delay in getting the regulations published.

Never the less the key advisor at NZ Police who drives it all assures me the form I created and which we have been trialing in the wellington area will almost certainly be "the form" as far as he is concerned and which is already in the package for approval his team has sent uphill for final sign off. That includes the new need to give best estimate of the numbers and types of fi****ms etc even prop ones but NOT a specific list with serial numbers. I double checked that with him. They want to be able to tell if its a play with one revolver or D day unfolding on the beach so as to see if your planning is on an appropriate scale with team numbers and security etc.

So I have added that in and amended our trials doc into an interim template you can pass around and use. Because of the "grey" such as exactly what events and when the new class of operator "On site armorer" who will have to have a dealer license that carries the endorsements ( yes in addition to already having them on their F/L) that cover anything they will end up supervising a team with. The decision is till up in the air as to whether "On site Arm.." will become a further dealer endorsement or what so meantime it is whoever is endorsed and is proposed as lead, on approval IS for that event effectively the on site.

In the long run when the bright lines emerge as to what does or doesn't need one there will be types of event that probably will be fine without one but meantime since the law doesn't yet say when you would be safe, continue to over comply even if its just prop guns . Remember there are offenses possible with those as well so be signed off for your sites and events to play safe for now.

Also, most regions outside Wellington Police district have not been part of the trial so they will range from unsure to "blank stare" about all this. So at the bottom of the form is the contact details for THEM to contact Max at Wellington Regional Arms office who can help his fellow Police catch up with the process. Lets just say roll out of the legislation has been imperfect so alot of them really have not caught up with changes already law.

Finally as the new process is Police driven not industry driven ( a key change) and one of the goals is uniform understanding and practices, the role of things like the blue book greatly diminish and are over ruled by the Police instructions. To make it simpler for everyone I at this stage at least have agreed to draft a user guide book that translates the final regulations into user friendly "how to" terms along with any forms. Police will (the plan is) check that and add a few words to make it the single book for users including thier own guys so that everyone is on the same page across the nation for practical purposes.

Regulations are alas still at least a month away, maybe longer, as there are other changes outside of the theatrical zone that are in the same process of becoming actual regulation - cant be any more precise than "soonish" sorry.

Anyway, grab the template and make yourself your personalized one and if needs be send a blank one to your local AO and have the chat in advance about the need to use it. Again, any blank stares just ask them to check in with Max in Wellington (see bottom of Form) who can happily confirm that yes, its the law now.

Stay safe, lead the way

Waka

FB doesn't let me attach a Word version of the form but if you want one email me [email protected] and Ill send one by reply

Update: Changes now in force Arms Act 1983
We alerted you all some time back that changes exist in the Arms Act affecting the Theatrical use of Fi****ms. On 1 July a further tranche of the new Act came into force which:
1. Now requires certain theatrical activities to be directly supervised by a new kind of person called an “On site armourer” or else it will be an offense to carry on that activity.
2. Armourers must now have a Dealer licence with the endorsments for each type of fi****ms they intend to supply or supervise for theatrical activity even if not for profit. The activity of providing the service is considered a dealer activity now even if you are not in business and just lend things.
3. Every site of any theatrical activity that includes the use of fi****ms that fall under the new rules must now have written approval from Police for the site, the persons supervising it , times etc.
The problem in this transition period is that the Act changes already came live on 1 July but the actual Regulations that define exactly what and when and who, are still winding their way thru Crown Law and Police. I have seen a draft as we were consulted as the subject experts but there is no way of knowing what changes have happened after that so we only have an educated speculation to offer today.
We can say these things I think with a high degree of confidence:
1. While we can be sure that anything that is “Restricted” ( e.g. a machine gun or rocket launcher or a pistol) or “Prohibited” ( semi auto or large magazines for anything”) will be included. But there are issues and offenses that can arise with more mundane types and replicas/airsoft and so there is a possibility the regulations may require a process even for those to some degree at least. For the moment it is probably wisest to defer to common sense and treat everything just one way regardless of “type” until things get clearer rather than risk getting into strife.
2. We know they are debating whether “On site Armourer” will be an actual further endorsement or some other process but it will certainly be as far as we understand it now, a Dealer Licence category ( Even people running a museum with guns in it now need a dealer licence so we are not the only area affected) which is expensive to get and keep as its an annual renewal process.
3. The exact scope of what needs specific site and management plan approval is likewise not known for certain nor is there a police form for gaining it. We have been using a trial process here in Wellington and have put a good number of events thru it with no real problems using documents we designed. Police at the planning level have been part of that so we hope the final form will work something like our trial version. Again for the moment at least its best to treat your productions on just one process level , that of Restricted weapons present. Be compliant as if you were using machine guns even if its rubber or airsoft and you should be well covered for compliance.
4. The actual regulations have had a lot of input from the actual industry experts so if they emerge about like the draft we have seen then its all just a bit more planning and documentation a little like OSH compliance. Change but not so bad you wont cope. Until we can see the final version of course we can only offer our educated impression.
Golden rule for now: Because the Law is law already and ignorance of it provides little protection, I recommend a little over compliance for now.
1. If you are going to use anything that would seem to be a firearm to a member of the public be it real of not, I think its best to work as if it’s the more serious case. Everyone can tone down a little later to suit once the actual regulations emerge and any actual limits are locked in as law and we have confidence as to when and where we need to do what.
2. Assume you need an armourer of some sort. The key is in no3.
3. Its wise to get your locations, days and plan signed off by Police regardless and that’s for whoever is the lead Armorer to do because even if its just Rubber or Airsoft its that person the Police are approving to manage the plan agreed and any armoury team listed. Obviously fake guns don’t need a full blown armourer ( unless that changes) but whoever sits in the role we would needs to be the person who owns the approval and the accountability to Police as its them who will end up with the approval in writing. Again the limits on all that will emerge with the final regulations but for the time being you are safer to over comply and its good practice anyway for the time you need the real steel. Actually I argue its safer and simpler if the industry adopts one process regardless of gun type ( real or otherwise) to ensure we are always compliant and don’t give cause for anyone to think even more rues are needed. Just one process is also easier for everyone to eventually adopt as basic practice and so just become habit and not such a big deal to just get sorted.
There is no way of knowing exactly how long its going to take for the actual regulations to emerge signed off and reliable.
This I might add, means your local Arms Office is very likely as much in the “Grey” as you are (that’s been our experience outside of Wellington) so if you get a blank stare show them this and if needs be ask for our help and we will do so. We can let your armourer have an example of the event approval form we are using already ( our own) and help them create one for your event and help liaise with your local Police if needs be.
This is very likely the end of the days when just anyone can be the Armourer just because they have a licence for the guns. We believe “On site armourer” wont be a lot of people as a type once Police determine how they are going to establish that. There are a lot of people with theatrical endorsements on their normal licence who will remain users ( Reenactors and the like) or able to work in a team under an approved “On site” on productions but not themselves be able to offer themselves as the actual required Supervisors . Again, we can only offer speculation with a little insight as even we have to wait with you for the final regulations to emerge as only then will the final new reality be in black and white.
That’s annoying I know but there is nothing we can do about it. Police cannot tell me when that will be but I don’t think it will be all that long.
Meanwhile it is your legal responsibility to comply so in the absence of the definition of compliance being in black and white our advice is to overcomply and get written approval. Stick to what was approved and you have evidence you are legal so whatever they sign off that’s the scope and accountability for you for that event.
Stay safe, create great work
We will update you again when we know more ourselves.
Waka
[email protected]

https://youtu.be/P1dZTsjhEJc I was armourer and provided all the uniforms and kit etc for this... since its ANZAC thought I would share it.

The Haka - New Zealand WW1 Short Film | izakariah WW1 Aotearoa Based Short Film. A kiwi spin on the classic "Football at Christmas" World War One story. www.izakariah.com

Latest from our work with Police is that a draft of the new Arms manual is due for release soon and will include the proposed new theatrical fi****ms rules and procedures. Looking forward to that so we can put the past away and get on with it.

Meeting again with Police next week to work thru the changes arising from the new legislation. Goal is to push for the working version to be out by Jan 2021 as the new season of outdoor events is scheduled and everything remains up in the air

NZ Theatrical Armorers Guild contact page updated their business hours.

NZ Theatrical Armorers Guild contact page updated their phone number.

NZ Theatrical Armorers Guild contact page updated their address.

The Armorer's Guild is a collective of New Zealand's most experienced Film, stage and live event armorers with extensive experience in both on set and equipment supply or builds. Our networks for all manner of related equipment including military equipment is considerable as is our network of people able to be skilled extras. We work closely with NZ Police and are respected by them with years of engagement on regulations and policy ongoing. Because we are spread over the country and work either alone or together as needed this email [email protected] is the best contact method . Let us know what you need or what your questions are and we will connect you as far as possible with someone suitably licensed and skilled near you.

email us [email protected]

Contact ph 021=02016000 (Waka) who will direct you to whoever is right for you and available.

Do great work but be compliant and safe doing it..

NZ Theatrical Armorers Guild contact page updated their website address.