Thirty-one firearms have been seized and six firearms licences suspended, after illegal hunting activities in North Canterbury

Police uncovered a network of licence holders allegedly giving firearms to unlicensed hunters and attempting to cover their tracks - through further offences against the Firearms Registry.

Detective Inspector Albie Alexander say the operation as launched after shots were fired near a house in rural Cheviot in April.

The Registry links firearms to licence holders and helped trace the offenders.

Six people will appear in court before year's end.