West Coaster Alan Gurden alleges he has lost his firearms licence because of comments he made about 1080 supporters.

An anti-1080 protester claims police have unfairly taken his firearms licence because he described 1080 supporters as "terrorists".

Alan Gurden, who is involved in the anti-1080 group Hikoi of a Poisoned Nation, said two officers took away his firearms licence this week, despite him never being convicted of any crime.

But police say Gurden had to lose his licence after he sent a letter to the West Coast Regional council that indirectly threatened staff with "lethal force" because of their stance on 1080.

The West Coast has been a hot spot for the issue, where aerial 1080 drops have covered 230,000 hectares of the region.

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﻿Police gave Gurden a warning in May after he delivered letters to several organisations calling supporters of planned poison drops terrorists.

Gurden posted a video on Facebook of himself reading an excerpt of the letter in the foyer of the regional council's headquarters.

"We believe that your terrorist actions are torturing and offering undue acts of cruelty to non-targeted species ... you have poisoned our children's future and as such we wish you to cease and desist," he said in the video.

He also posted a notice on the council's door, warning the public they were entering a "terrorist entity associated with known terrorists".

Gurden, 54, told Stuff he met with then-West Coast area commander Inspector Mel Aitken not long after the incident.

She gave him a warning and a letter advising him his firearms licence could be revoked.

It said Aitken could use her discretion to decide if Gurden was a fit and proper person to hold a licence. He was given 28 days to make a submission in response.

"I emailed Mel Aitken and I stated my case that I had no convictions, I've never been arrested, I have no mental health issues, no domestic violence issues," he said.

"I've held my firearms licence since I was 16. My dad was a mountain safety fire arms inspector and it was bred into me to be safe and responsible with my firearms."

Gurden said he did not hear anything more on the matter until two police officers turned up at his Blackball home this week.

They gave him a letter from Aitken, which said she had not received a submission from him following her first letter and she believed he was "no longer suitable to be in possession of firearms".

"You ... indirectly threatened the [council] employees with lethal force in relation to their support or stance towards 1080 drops, citing said employees to be deemed as terrorists," she told him.

Gurden said he had given the firearms, which had belonged to his father, to another firearms licence holder. He refused to tell police who he had given them to.

He was now considering taking a private prosecution against police, making an Independent Police Conduct Authority complaint and lodging an appeal against the revocation of his licence.

Tasman District commander superintendent Mike Johnson said police recognised the lawful right to protest.

"The role of police is to ensure safety and uphold the law, and we will respond appropriately to any public safety or disorder issues that arise during protest activity," he said.

"We understand Mr Gurden is appealing the revocation of his firearms licence. Given this we are not in a position to discuss the decision further."