FIREARM SAFETY
WELCOME TO OPEN POLYTECHNIC
Whether you are looking to improve your
career prospects or just learn something
new, we can help you achieve your goal.
We specialise in open learning – learning
that gives you more freedom to decide
what you study and where you study.
Our courses are specifically designed for
delivery by distance, which means you can fit
your study around your life. And just because
you are learning by distance, it doesn’t
mean you have to do it alone. You will have
access to your tutors and lecturers by email
or phone and to other students studying the
same course through the Online Campus, the
student support section of our website.
It is our goal to make sure that you enjoy
your study and that you succeed. So
welcome to learning for today’s world, and
congratulations on taking up the challenge of
further education.
Please note that information contained in this brochure may be subject to
change without notice.
FIREARM SAFETY
Qualification code: NC1014 (the firearm safety unit
standard is delivered under the National Certificate in
Horticulture qualification)
Course code: US9131
Level: 4
Credits: 7
The course is for people who wish to get a firearms licence
and for existing firearm users who wish to gain valuable
information and skills. It is particularly relevant for people
who need to use or handle firearms in jobs such as pest
destruction, agriculture, horticulture, sports retailing, gun
importing or manufacturing, or for recreation.
The course covers firearm and cartridge safety and security
and provides an understanding of firearms, relevant
legislation and other firearms-related matters.
QUALIFICATION
When you finish the course, you will receive the Open
Polytechnic Certificate of Achievement. By completing unit
standard 9131, you will also get 7 credits at Level 4 on your
NZQA Record of Achievement.
If you do not already hold a firearms licence, you will be
awarded a New Zealand Mountain Safety Council Firearm
Certificate, which you can present to the police (within 12
months of completing this course) for exemption from the
theory requirement of the firearms licence test.
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QUALIFICATION STRUCTURE
There are four sections to the course:
SECTION
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CONTENT
Firearm law and
safety
Covers the Arms Act 1983 and the
Arms Regulations 1992 and their
amendments; penalties; safety and
security; applying for a firearms
licence.
Firearm and
cartridges
Covers firearms and ammunition
used in New Zealand; rifle, pistol, and
shotgun actions; safety and security
of ammunition; care, cleaning, and
maintenance of firearms.
Using firearms in
New Zealand
Covers shooting clubs and
associations; target shooting
events; collecting firearms; hunting
considerations, ethics, and
field safety; the need for wildlife
conservation.
Reloading rifle and
shotgun ammunition
Covers presses and equipment;
reloading procedures; safety and
precautions; use of reloading tables;
storage of powder and primers;
testing reloads.
General information
ASSESSMENT
There is one assessment, which has two parts. You can do
the assessment when you are ready and think you have a
good grasp of the relevant study material.
The assessment includes questions specific to US9131 and
some additional questions relating to your appreciation of
firearms safety.
Once you have successfully completed Part A of the
assessment, you will be able to apply for a firearms licence.
We recommend you get a licence before proceeding with
Part B of the assessment. Licences are issued by the
New Zealand Police. Refer to
www.police.govt.nz/service/firearms for information on
how to apply.
Note: You must be at least 16 years of age to apply
for a firearms licence.
To complete Part B of the assessment, you need to visit
an approved firearms owner, dealer or collector and handle
a range of firearms under supervision. The supervisor will
fill in a checklist of skills as you complete them and sign a
verification form, which you should return to us with the rest
of your assessment. Your tutor will help you to arrange a
supervisor.
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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Entry is open and you do not need any previous
qualifications or experience, although you need to be at least
16 to hold a firearms licence.
English language
You need to be able to read and write well in English so you
can write the assignments and understand written English
course materials.
For the practical parts of the course, you will need to speak
English fluently and understand spoken English easily.
STUDY TIME
You should expect to spend about 70 hours studying,
visiting firearms users, handling firearms and completing the
assessment.
FEES
All fee information is availble on our website at
www.openpolytechnic.ac.nz
Fees are expressed in NZ$ and are inclusive of GST.
The GST amount will be deducted if you are living overseas.
Fees shown in this brochure are correct at the time of
publication and may be subject to change. Exact fees will be
confirmed as part of your enrolment.
A ‘New Zealand student’ is any New Zealand citizen,
including citizens or permanent residents of the Cook
Islands, Tokelau or Niue studying there or in New Zealand;
New Zealand permanent residents living in New Zealand;
and Australian citizens living in New Zealand. For more
information contact us – see the last page of this brochure
for contact details.
An ‘international student’ is anyone who doesn’t fit the
description of a New Zealand student.
Note: You must be living in New Zealand to study this course.
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International students in New Zealand
We can only accept you as an international student studying
in New Zealand if you have a valid work permit with a
Variation of Conditions that allows you to work and study
part time. We cannot accept international students studying
on a student permit.
For more information contact:
Academic Registrar
Email: registrar@openpolytechnic.ac.nz
Phone: 0508 650 200
Administration fee
You will need to pay a non-refundable $55 administration fee
with your first enrolment in each academic year.
Set texts
While there are no set texts, you will need access to the
Arms Act 1983 and the Arms Regulations 1992 (and their
amendments). We recommend having a copy of these. You
can download them free from the legislation website
www.legislation.govt.nz or access them through our library.
We also suggest you read The New Zealand Firearm
Handbook by Lynne Harris, published by, and available for
$25.00 from, the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council. See
the back page of this brochure for contact details.
You will also need access to a DVD player, as some of the
course material is provided on DVD.
ENROLMENT
You may enrol at any time. Enrolments are valid for 32 weeks
from the date of enrolment. To enrol, fill in the enclosed
Application for Enrolment form and return it to us in the
freepost envelope provided.
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LEARNING SUPPORT
Online Campus
The Online Campus is the area of our website where you
can:
· Access and submit assignments
· Link to web pages specific to your course, including
frequently asked questions (FAQs), assessment hints, web
resources, staff information and sometimes online quizzes
and tutorials
· Communicate with other students in your course and with
your lecturer or tutor
· Access the library.
Library
We provide a library service for students. There is no
additional fee for using it. The library service provides:
· Online resources
· Guides on how to search for information
· A distance lending service with free and fast delivery
· Information about study techniques.
You will find more information in the Student Handbook,
which you will get when you enrol.
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NEW ZEALAND QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY (NZQA) –
RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT
If you are registered on the NZQA database, please provide
your Record of Achievement number or your national
student number on your Application for Enrolment form.
If you are not registered, we will arrange this for you. Any unit
standards you gain through the year will be added to your
Record of Achievement.
You can access your Record of Achievement online or you
can phone the NZQA and ask for a copy of it. To find out
more, visit their website or call them on (04) 463 3000.
Further study
For information on other courses and qualifications available
at Open Polytechnic, visit our website or contact us.
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Contact us
Website: www.openpolytechnic.ac.nz
Freephone: 0508 650 200
Overseas phone: +64 4 913 5300
Email: customerservices@openpolytechnic.ac.nz
Private Bag 31914
Lower Hutt 5040
New Zealand
To find out more about this course, contact:
Firearm Safety Programme Leader
Email: firearms@openpolytechnic.ac.nz
Freephone: 0508 650 200
OTHER USEFUL CONTACT DETAILS
New Zealand Mountain Safety Council Inc.
Website: www.mountainsafety.org.nz
E-mail: orders@mountainsafety.org.nz
Phone 04 385 7162
Mountain Safety House
19 Tory Street
Wellington
NZQA
Website: www.nzqa.govt.nz
Email: helpdesk@nzqa.govt.nz
Phone: 04 463 3000
PO Box 160
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
9
FAS
0511
Freephone 0508 650 200
Overseas phone +64 4 913 5300
www.openpolytechnic.ac.nz
Private Bag 31914 · Lower Hutt 5040
New Zealand