Lengthy and intense shooting at Auckland Shooting Club has continued despite a court banning it from operating, locals say, and a neighbouring meditation centre has no confidence the council will enforce it.
The entrance to Auckland Shooting Club. Photo: RNZ / Joanna MacKenzie
The Court of Appeal ruling on 10 April banned the club, in Makarau about an hour and 20 minutes drive north of Auckland, from operating.
Makarau resident John Raffaelli said the club's signage on Tuhirangi Road had been removed since it lost the Court of Appeal decision but the shooting had not stopped.
Photographs taken by neighbours of what appeared to be shooting events held at Auckland shooting club, which has been ordered to cease operating. Photo: Supplied
"They [the club] say it's friends, but it's an awful lot of friends that seem to have a code to get through into the shooting club," he said.
Another neighbour, who didn't want to be named, told RNZ about 20 or 30 cars were at the club on Saturday, and on Thursday there were lots of vehicles and heavy gunfire.
Mr Raffaelli said locals were unsurprised the shooting had continued because previous abatement notices had been ignored.
"We kind of expected it because it's happened before, it's not a surprise to anyone ... what process then do we have to go through to stop it? You think you go through a lot of hoops, but it kind of seems to be never ending because they just carry on."
Shooting club owner Raymond O'Brien was approached by RNZ for an interview and to respond to the complaints and allegations, but he said he had no comment to make.
Vipassana Meditation Centre borders the club, and trustee Kirsty McKay said she had been fighting the club's right to operate for three years.
Protest signs outside the club were vandalised, members of the meditation centre have said. Photo: RNZ / Joanna MacKenzie
She said taking down signs and pretending not to be a club but allowing members continued access was unacceptable.
Ms McKay said that the club had been ordered to stop operating on previous occassions but gunfire continued with no repercussions from council, so she had little faith this time would be different.
"Last time the certificate was cancelled the same thing happened: the club founders were overseas and members just continued shooting all day, every day."
"Council said they'd investigate, nothing was done, so there's not a great deal of confidence in council at this point."
A rule that allows informal shooting with friends was being seriously stretched by the club and its friends, she said.
Another photograph appearing to show shooting events at the club. Photo: Supplied
Auckland Council had been asked how it intended to identify whether the shooting taking place now was organised or recreational shooting among friends, but Ms McKay said she was yet to receive a response.
"Council have refused to answer any direct questions, they're not helpful at all. Last time this happened, they said that there would be an investigation."
"And despite being provided with ample evidence, even of actual events that took place - competitive events - nothing was done. I think they need to step up and do their job."
In a statement, Auckland Council said it had received several complaints from locals about firearm use at the property and an investigation was under way.
Resource consents manager Ian Dobson said some recreational shooting "is permitted at the property but only if it falls under the definition of 'informal recreation' in the Unitary Plan."
"'Organised sport and recreation' isn't allowed without a resource consent," he said.
