Two of New Zealand’s major shooting organisations have decided not to participate or support the Auckland Shot Expo scheduled for February. The Council of Licenced Firearm Owners (COLFO) and the Sporting Shooters Association of New Zealand (SSANZ) announced that they would no longer be involved. The Council of Licenced Firearms Owners represents the interests of firearms owners and is the largest voluntary shooting-related organisation in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Shot Expo is not operated or owned by the SSAA, and is instead conducted by New Zealand company Exhibitions Group Limited. Michael Nissen is the director of this company, and was also the sole director of Australian company Exhibitions Group Pty Ltd, which conducted the SSAA Shot Expo events in Australia until it went into voluntary liquidation.