24 Apr 2013

Expansion of Maori firearms training wanted

6:38 am on 24 April 2013

The Mountain Safety Council wants to spread its firearms advice scheme throughout the motu.

The council has been running a programme called Whakatupato, targeted mostly at Maori living in rural areas.

Officials have been touring communities in Te Urewera, Northland and the East Coast to deliver lectures and test gun owners.

But a manager at the Mountain Safety Council, Tracy Wakeford, says they are now keen to move into more territories to ensure every household gets the free lessons.

She says the key is to make every community safe - and not just the firearms users, but also the husbands, wives, and teenagers.