There's doubt what happened on an Alec Baldwin movie set would happen in New Zealand.

His 42-year-old photography director, Halyna Hutchins, is dead after the actor fired a gun he was told contained blanks while filming Rust.

New Zealand Stunt Guild professional, Andrew Cottle, told Tim Dower real firearms are often used in this country but there's never any live ammunition on set.

But he says a blank can also maim or kill someone.

“We stipulate with all of our firearms that you never point a loaded firearm at a person and pull the trigger because the gas coming out the end is coming out very quickly and it’s very hot.”

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