The Hunt

Wellington
#1

facebook.com/events/1410707 … pe=regular

Luke Smylie is proposing a “run around the central city with nerf guns on a Friday night hunting zombies event”.

Does anyone want to work up an appropriate warning / safety suggestion? ATM I’m stuck on sarcasm - “yes, I’d love to be arrested or shot by the police” - and reminders about KAOS history (where urban legend has it that they had the Armed Offenders Squad show up to a night killing round Before My Time - which is why KAOS does not run such events).

Are there any helpful suggestions we can give to reduce physical/legal and reputational risk? A specified venue, prior notification and consultation with police, warning signs to other users of the space that there may be loons with nerf guns?

#2

It has nothing to do with Larping or NZ Larps so isn’t really our ‘problem’ as such.

However if he was to ask me for advice…

I’d suggest Luke contact the Police and inform them of the event as a responsible organiser. I’ve suggested that on his Facebook page in response to someone asking similar questions to you.

I’d also suggest only unpainted Nerf guns, the bright colours will help if there are any unfortunate misunderstandings.

#3

Its not organised or funded by us, but its larpy enough that its of interest to us, and that it could blow back on us if something goes wrong. We’ve provided safety advice on similar dumbarse nerf-centered ideas in the past (including “please don’t call it a larp, because we have safety standards and you clearly do not”), and that falls within the purposes of the society.

[quote]However if he was to ask me for advice…

I’d suggest Luke contact the Police and inform them of the event as a responsible organiser. I’ve suggested that on his Facebook page in response to someone asking similar questions to you.

I’d also suggest only unpainted Nerf guns, the bright colours will help if there are any unfortunate misunderstandings.[/quote]

Good advice. The question now is whether he’ll listen.

#4

We had a paintball photo shoot on the waterfront a while back, we called the police to advise them, they were happy to be notified.
Although we weren’t pointing at anyone, the guns were obviously not firearms (brightly coloured) and we had no problems.

#5

I’ve chipped in a mention on the event page that I’m happy to be contacted by Luke if he wants advice. I’ve worked with film crews and street events like this before, and once had a LARP like this in the pipeline. If he contacts me, that’s fine; if not, that’s cool too, but it doesn’t necessarily look like there’ll be much attendance without some sort of reassurance from Luke about the protocol designed to stop people getting arrested.

EDIT: By the by, Luke does stop in on this forum occasionally, so ‘constructive’ definitely is key.