Club Rules

Our Range

Club Membership

Committee Members

Range Rules

All members of the Hutt Valley Gun Club (Incorporated) shall abide by the following Rules and Regulations of conduct :

No member shall handle another member’s firearm without the member’s consent.
All guns are to be handled with the utmost care and respect. Guns must be carried with the breech open and with the muzzle pointing in a safe direction at all times. A gun shall not be carried from a shooting station containing ammunition. Competitors must obey the Referee at all times and may only proceed to load their guns on their command.
No magazine guns may be used on the grounds where the guns capacity is more than two cartridges.
During a Trap / DTL event, guns must be carried with an open breech and unloaded when moving from station 5 to station 1.
Shooting and sighting may be practiced from a shooting station. Shots may be fired only when it is your turn and only at your designated target.
Shooters must present themselves at the field or shooting station well before the allotted time for their competition. The shooter must have with them sufficient ammunition and the necessary equipment.
All Competitors must present themselves in a reasonable standard of dress. They must wear sturdy footwear (no jandals, thongs or open sandals) and are strongly urged to wear hearing and eye protection.
It is expressly forbidden to deliberately shoot at live game or animals on the Clubs grounds during the course of a competition or practice day. Provided that with the permission of the President or Club Captain the destruction of pests is permitted.
A shooter must not turn from the shooting station before the gun is opened. If shooting is interrupted for any reason, the shooter(s) must immediately open their gun and may only reload their gun on the permission of the Referee.
In the case of a gun or ammunition malfunction the shooter shall remain standing with the gun pointed in a safe direction and shall wait for the referee to inspect the gun. The shooter must not, under any circumstances, open the gun or in any way manipulates its mechanism without the permission of the referee.
During the course of the competition the shooter(s) shall only give the necessary words of command and answer the referee’s questions. No foul language or impolite conduct is to be permitted.
No competitor shall present himself / herself for a competition after the consumption of certain prescribed drugs, controlled drugs or alcohol.

Additionally all competitions are run under rules of the New Zealand Clay Target Association. The current versions of the rules are held on the NZCTA website.

Club members are expected to understand the rules governing the events they enter, so that they can fulfil the role of referee when required.

Rules Of The Club

1	NAME
	1.1	The name of the Club is Hutt Valley Clay Target Club Incorporated.
2	OBJECTS
	2.1	The objects of the Club are:
		(a)	To promote all disciplines of the sport of clay target shooting;
		(b)	To establish clay target shooting facilities of international standard;
		(c)	To run events in all disciplines of the sport and engage in competition with other clay target organisations;
		(d)	To train and encourage members and provide coaching and facilities for practice;
		(e)	To affiliate or become a member of any organisation having like objects, including the Association;
		(f)	To provide facilities for recreation and enjoyment by members and visitors;
		(g)	To enhance the standing of the Club as a valued member of the community; and
		(h)	To do any act or thing incidental or conducive to the attainment of any of the above objects.
3	DEFINATIONS
	3.1	In these Rules unless the context otherwise requires: “Association” means The New Zealand Clay Target Association Incorporated; “Associate Member” means an individual who is a member of the Association, and who is registered there as a member of a clay target club other than the Club; “Club” means the incorporated society known as the Hutt Valley Clay target Club Incorporated; “Club Captain” means a member elected to that position at the annual general meeting to have complete control over the Club’s grounds, and to be responsible for the selection of referees and the supervision of all matches while competitions are held; “Committee” means those persons elected at the Club’s annual general meeting to fulfil the functions of the Committee set out in Rule 11; “Eligible Members” means Life Members and Senior Members whose subscriptions have been paid (where applicable) for the current or immediately preceding financial year; “Junior Member” means a member under the age of eighteen years on the 1st of January in the relevant year of registration as a member. A Junior Member is not eligible for election to the Committee; “Life Member” means a member elected to that position at an annual general meeting in accordance with the then applicable criteria for life membership; “Secretary” means a member elected to that position at the annual general meeting and responsible for the secretarial function of keeping minutes, keeping a register of members, reporting competition results, and attending to correspondence at the request of the Committee; “Senior Member” means a member who is not an Associate Member or a Junior Member; “Standing Payments” means regular payments for items such as electricity, telephone, rubbish removal, insurance, post office box rental, water supply, lawn mowing and similar type accounts; “Treasurer” means a member elected to that position at an annual general election and responsible for keeping the financial records of the Club, preparing reports for the Committee, and a balance sheet and accounts for each financial year.
4	POWERS
	4.1	In addition to its statutory powers, the Club:
		(a)	may charge competitors and use such funds to pay the costs and expenses of furthering or carrying out its objects, and for that purpose may employ such people as may seem expedient;
		(b)	subject to Rule 4.1(c), may purchase, lease, hire or otherwise acquire, may exchange, and may sell, lease or otherwise dispose of property, rights or privileges to further or carry out its objects as may seem expedient;
		(c)	may, only with the prior approval of the Club in general meeting, sell or let any real property owned by the Club;
		(d)	may invest in any investment in which a natural person might invest;
		(e)	has power to borrow or raise money by debenture, bonds, mortgage and other means, with or without security (including by mortgage over any real property);
		(f)	may raise money and/or establish a fund to contribute to the expenses of individuals or teams selected to compete in competitions or tournaments;
		(g)	may conduct raffles and lotteries;
		(h)	may accept donations, grants and legacies;
		(i)	may establish codes of behaviour applicable to members, and the safe use of firearms; and
		(j)	may make regulations or bylaws to advance the attainment of any of the above objects.
	4.2	Despite any other provision of these Rules the Club may only expend the Club’s funds in furtherance of the Objects contained in Rule 2.1 and must not expend any money:
		(a)	other than to further purposes recognised by law, nor
		(b)	for the sole personal or individual benefit of any member except under the provisions of Rules 4.1(f) and 4.3.
	4.3	Any transactions between the Club and any member, officer or member of the Committee or any associated persons must be at arms’ length and in accordance with prevailing commercial terms on which the Club would deal with third parties not associated with the Club, and any payments made in respect of such transactions must be limited to:
		(a)	a fair and reasonable reward for services performed;
		(b)	reimbursement of expenses properly incurred;
		(c)	usual professional, business or trade charges; and
		(d)	interest at no more than current commercial rates.
	4.4	Where it is proposed to make a pecuniary payment or equivalent “benefit” to person pursuant to Rule 4.1(f) or 4.2, that person may not vote on any resolution authorising such payment or benefit to them.
5	MEMBERSHIP
	5.1	Members will be classified as Associate Members, Senior Members, Junior Members and Life Members.
	5.2	Every member must advise the Secretary of any change of address.
	5.3	The Secretary must keep a register of all members recording their names and address, and the dates each member became a member of the Club.
	5.4	All members (and the Committee) must promote the interests and objects of the Club and must not do anything to bring the Club into disrepute. All members must comply with these Rules and any rules and regulations made by the Committee (including pursuant to Rule 11.10).
	5.5	Copies of these Rules must be provided (at cost) to any member on request.
	5.6	Nomination as a Life Member is in recognition of outstanding services to the Club. To be eligible to nominate a person as a Life Member, the nominating Senior Member(s) must have had at least ten years association with the Club. Before anyone may be nominated as a Life Member, the nominating Senior Member(s) must consult with the then applicable subcommittee of the Committee as to the services rendered to the Club by the proposed nominee. No more than two new Life Members may be proposed per calendar year. Election to the position of Life Member is by majority vote at an annual general meeting.
6	ADMISSION OF MEMBERS
	6.1	Membership will be granted provisionally on receipt of an application form, and payment of the appropriate subscription pending the next meeting of the Committee which will consider, and accept or reject applications. A candidate for election as a member of the Club must be proposed and seconded by two members. The method of election will be by vote of the Committee. No vote will be valid unless three fifths of those eligible to vote record their votes. If more than 20% of those eligible to vote, vote against a candidate, then that candidate’s application must be rejected. Rejected applicants will be informed in writing but the reason need not be given. Rejected candidates may not be proposed again until at least 6 months after the initial application.
7	SUBSCRIPTIONS
	7.1	The annual subscription (or the amount of any periodic payments if the general meeting decides that it is payable by instalments) and any subscription fees for different classes of membership for the following financial year will be set by resolution of an annual general meeting.
	7.2	A family may pay a combined membership, comprising up to two Senior Members and two Junior Members.
	7.3	Any member failing to pay the annual subscription (including any periodic payment) on or before 1 January in each year will be considered as unfinancial and will (without being released from the obligation of payment) not be entitled to participate in any Club activity until all the arrears are paid. If such arrears are not paid fourteen days prior to the next annual general meeting the name of the member will be deleted from the register of members.
	7.4	Life members are not required to pay a subscription.
	7.5	Applicants for membership after 30 June may pay discounted subscription of 50% of the applicable annual subscription.
8	CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP
	8.1	Any member may resign from that member’s class of membership by written notice to the Secretary, and each such resignation will take effect from the end of the Club’s then current financial year, but the member resigning will remain liable to pay all subscriptions and any other fees to the date the Secretary receives the written resignation, and must cease to hold himself or herself out as a member of the Club.
	8.2	The Committee may suspend, disqualify or expel, for such a period as it thinks fit having regard to these Rules, any member who commits any breach of these Rules or regulations made pursuant to these Rules, who refuses to obey any reasonable direction of the Committee, who is guilty of unsportsmanlike or unethical conduct, who is guilty of the unsafe handling of any firearm, who is guilty of an indictable offence or offence for which a convicted person may be imprisoned, who is adjudged bankrupt or who makes a composition with creditors or who is suspended from registration with the Association under its Constitution. The Committee may refuse an entry at any competition or event without giving any reason for such refusal.
	8.3	If any member breaches or becomes guilty of any of the matters raised in Rule 8.2, after due enquiry, and having given the member the right to be heard, the Committee may by letter invite any member within a specified time to resign his/her membership for failure to comply with these Rules or any of the other duties of a member. If the member does not so resign the Committee may, by resolution passed by at least a four-fifths majority of the members present in a properly constituted quorum, censure, suspend or expel the member.
9	RE-ADMISSION OF FORMER MEMBERS
	9.1	Any former member may apply for re-admission in the manner prescribed for new applicants, and may only be re-admitted by decision of the Committee.
10	ELECTION OF OFFICERS
	10.1	The following Officers will be elected annually: a Patron, a President, a Senior Vice-President, a Second Vice-President, a Club Captain, a Secretary and a Treasurer and not less than six (and not more than 14) other members who (excluding the Patron) will be the Club’s Committee. The office of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by one person. Associate Members and Junior Members are not eligible for election to the Committee.
	10.2	The election of officers will be conducted as follows:
		(a)	Nominations may be received from the floor at the annual general meeting.
		(b)	Votes shall be cast in such manner as prescribed in Rule 16.7.
	10.3	If a vacancy in the position of President, a Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer or other Committee member occurs between annual general meetings that vacancy will be filled by the Committee. The Committee may appoint from its members a Deputy Club Captain and a Social Co-ordinator. The Deputy Club Captain will exercise all the duties of the Club Captain, when the Club Captain is absent. The Social Co-ordinator will be responsible for the running of the Clubs social activities. If the Club chooses to operate licensed premises, then the Social Co-ordinator will be responsible for the management and day to day operation of the bar. All members of the Committee must retain membership of the New Zealand Clay target Association, while the Club retains its membership.
	10.4	Any officer or other member of the Committee may be removed by a resolution of a general meeting of which prior notice was given in the notice of meeting and which is passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting.
11	MANAGEMENT BY THE COMMITTEE
	11.1	From the end of each annual general meeting until the end of the next, the Club will be administered, managed, and controlled by the Committee which will be accountable to the members for the implementation of the policies of the Club as approved by any general meeting.
	11.2	Subject to these Rules and the resolution of any general meeting the Committee may exercise all the Club’s powers other than those required by statute or by these Rules to be exercised by the Club in general meetings.
	11.3	The Committee will meet at least monthly (but need only meet once in the December/January period) at such times and places and in such manner (including by telephone or video conference) as it may determine and otherwise where and as convened by the President or Secretary. The attendance at Committee meetings must be recorded by the President in his annual report.
	11.4	All Committee meetings will be chaired by the President or in the President’s absence by a Vice President, or in the absence of all of them by some other Committee member elected for the purpose by the meeting, and any such chairperson will have a casting vote.
	11.5	The Committee may co-opt any person to the Committee for a specific purpose, or for a limited period, or generally until the next annual general meeting.
	11.6	The quorum for Committee meetings is at least five members. A majority resolution of those present at any Committee meeting where a quorum is present will be deemed to be an act of the whole Committee. A committee meeting at which a quorum is not present must be adjourned until such date as determined by the members present.
	11.7	Only Committee members elected under Rule 10.1 or appointed under Rules 10.3 or 11.5 who are present in person or by telephone or video link will be counted in the quorum and entitled to vote.
	11.8	The Committee may set the remuneration or honoraria for the Treasurer and Secretary.
	11.9	The Committee may appoint subcommittees consisting of such persons (whether or not members of the Club) and for such purposes as it thinks fit. Unless otherwise resolved by the Committee:
		(a)	The quorum of every subcommittee is half the members of the subcommittee;
		(b)	No subcommittee will have power to co-opt additional members;
		(c)	No subcommittee may commit the Club to any financial expenditure without express authority; and
		(d)	No subcommittee may delegate any of its powers.
	11.10	The Committee from time to time may make and amend regulations, bylaws and policies for the conduct and control of Club activities, but such regulations, bylaws and policies must not be inconsistent with these Rules.
	11.11	The President (and in the absence of the President a Vice President) will, in addition to all other duties described in these rules, generally supervise and direct the affairs and business of the Club.
	11.12	Other than as prescribed by statute or these Rules, the Committee may regulate its proceedings as it thinks fit.
	11.13	Members of the Committee and of subcommittees will be entitled to be reimbursed by the Club for any reasonable actual expenses incurred by them on behalf of the Club as approved by resolution of the Committee.
	11.14	The decision of the Committee on the interpretation of these Rules and the resolutions of general meetings and all matters dealt with by it in accordance with these rules and on matters not provided for in these Rules will be final and binding on all members.
	11.15	Each officer must within one calendar month of submitting a resignation or ceasing to hold office deliver to that officer’s successor all books, papers and other property of the Club possessed by such former officer.
	11.16	The Committee may employ any person or company to administer or manage the affairs of the Club.
	11.17	Indemnity for Committee and appointed individuals
		(a)	No officer or member of the Committee or appointed person will be liable for the acts or defaults of any other person or members of the Committee or any loss caused by those acts or defaults, unless caused by their wilful default.
		(b)	The officers, Committee and each of its members and appointed persons are indemnified by the Club for all liabilities and costs incurred by them in the proper performance of their functions and duties, other than as a result of their wilful default.
12	SECRETARY
	12.1	The Secretary must record the minutes of all general meetings and Committee meetings, and all such minutes when confirmed by the next such meeting, and signed by the chairperson of that meeting will, unless clearly wrong, be evidence that that meeting was duly called, and will, unless clearly wrong, be a true and correct record of what occurred at that meeting.
	12.2	The Secretary must ensure that the Club’s records, documents, and books are securely held in the place on the Club’s premises nominated by the Committee from time to time.
	12.3	The Secretary must deal with and answer correspondence, and perform such other duties as directed by the Committee.
13	REGISTERED OFFICE
	13.1	The registered office of the Club will be at such place as the Committee from time to time determines.
14	FINANCE
	14.1	The Treasurer must keep such books of account as may be necessary to provide a true record of the Club’s financial position, report on the Club’s financial position to each Committee meeting, and present an annual Statement of Accounts (Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet).
	14.2	The Committee must maintain bank accounts in the name of the Club, and all cheques and withdrawal forms must be signed by the President and the Treasurer, the President and the Secretary or the Treasurer and the Secretary.
	14.3	All money received on account of the Club must be banked promptly after being received. All persons handling money must provide the Treasurer with an itemised list of receipts and disbursements (if any).
	14.4	All accounts paid or for payment must be submitted to the Committee for approval of payment except for Standing Payments which may be reported to the next meeting of the Committee.
	14.5	The Club’s financial year will commence on 1st January of each year and end of 31st December in that year.
	14.6	Each annual general meeting must resolve whether or not to appoint an auditor. Any auditor so appointed must be a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants and not a member of the Club, and if any such auditor is unable to act the Committee must appoint a replacement auditor.
15	EXECUTION OF DOCUMENTS
	15.1	The Secretary must ensure that the Common Seal of the Club is securely held in the place on the Club’s premises nominated by the Committee from time to time.
	15.2	Documents must be executed for the Club pursuant to a resolution of the Committee by affixing the Common Seal witnessed by two members of the Committee and the Secretary.
16	GENERAL MEETINGS
	16.1	The annual general meeting must be held no later than 31 March in each year at a time and place fixed by the Committee.
	16.2	Special general meetings may be called at any time by the Committee or by written requisition to the Secretary signed by not less than ten Eligible Members.
	16.3	At least seven days before any general meeting the Secretary must post or email to all Eligible Members written notice of the business to be conducted at the general meeting. The failure for any reason of any member to receive such notice will not invalidate the meeting or its proceedings.
	16.4	General meetings may be attended by all members of whatever class of membership, but only Eligible Members are entitled to vote.
	16.5	The quorum for general meetings is eleven Eligible Members. A general meeting at which a quorum is not present must be adjourned until such date as determined by the members present.
	16.6	All general meetings must be chaired by the President or in the President’s absence a Vice President or in the absence of all of them by some other Committee member elected for the purpose by the meeting, and any such chairperson will have a casting vote.
	16.7	Votes will be exercised as follows:
		(a)	Every question submitted to any general meeting of the Club or to any meeting of the Committee will be decided in the first instance on the voices or a show of hands. Every member present in person will be entitled to record one vote and no more upon every question. The chairman will be entitled to a further casting vote;
		(b)	Unless a ballot is demanded by the Chairman or by at least three members present, a declaration by the Chairman that a resolution has been carried or lost and an entry in the Minute Book will be conclusive evidence to the fact without proof of the number of votes recorded in favour or against such a resolution;
		(c)	If a ballot is demanded it must be taken in such a manner and at such a time as the Chairman of the meeting may direct and the result of the ballot will be deemed to be a resolution of the meeting at which the ballot was demanded;
		(d)	A demand for a ballot may be withdrawn. The demand for a ballot will not prevent the continuance of the meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which the ballot has been demanded;
		(e)	Votes must be given personally and not by proxy.
	16.8	The business of the annual general meeting will be:
		(a)	Apologies;
		(b)	Minutes of the previous general meeting(s);
		(c)	Annual Report of the Committee;
		(d)	Statement of Accounts;
		(e)	Resolution regarding audit;
		(f)	Subscriptions;
		(g)	Election of any Patron(s), the President, the Vice Presidents, the Club Captain, the Secretary, the Treasurer and the other members of the Committee;
		(h)	Motions of which notice has been given; and
		(i)	General business.
	16.9	Any member wishing to give notice of any motion for consideration at an annual general meeting must forward written notice of the same to the Secretary not later than 30 days prior to the annual general meeting. The Committee may consider all such notices of motion and provide recommendations to members in respect of them.
17	COMPETITION RULES
	17.1	The Club will adopt the generally accepted rules for clay target shooting as published from time to time by the Association.
	17.2	Visitors from other clay target clubs wishing to compete in championship events of the Club need to register as Associate Members. A person who is not a member of the Club may not shoot more than twice in any organised Club shoot (excluding the duckshooters shoot(s)). Any such person will not be eligible to win any prizes, trophies or awards other than cash sweepstakes.
	17.3	The price for competitions will be set by the Committee.
18	ALTERATION OF RULES
	18.1	These Rules may be amended or replaced by resolution of any general meeting passed by a majority of those members present and voting.
	18.2	Any proposed motion to amend these rules may be proposed by the Committee or requested by at least ten members given in writing to the Secretary.
	18.3	At least fourteen days before the general meeting at which any such proposal is to be considered the Secretary must post or email written notice to all Eligible Members of the place and date of the meeting and of the proposed motion, and the reasons for the proposal, and of any recommendations from the Committee.
	18.4	No amendment to or replacement of these Rules may be approved by the members if it negates the Clubs non-profit aims and any purported approval of any such amendment or replacement will be ineffective.
19	LIQUIDATION
	19.1	The Club may be put into liquidation under the provisions of the Incorporated Societies Act 1908.
	19.2	If the Club is liquidated, the surplus assets, after payment of all debts, costs and liabilities must be disposed of as the Club in general meeting has directed, or, failing such a direction, in such manner as the Registrar of Incorporated Societies may determine.
20	THE NEW ZEALAND CLAY TARGET ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED
	20.1	So long as the Club is a member of the Association, each member of the Club will abide by the Constitution and Regulations of the Association for the time being in force and by the decisions of the Council or any other authority acting on behalf of the Association.