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NZ Hunter Education:

Module 6: SAFETY & LEGAL

 

Safety is our priority!

 

Having a firearms licence comes with legal requirements and duties. To make it easier for you we have listed these in alphabetical order. You need to be familiar with these requirements, especially this section ‘of firearm owners/users’.

1. Airguns

 

An airgun is any air rifle, pistol or weapon that has a gas or compressed air firing mechanism. Under the Arms Act 1983, ‘airgun’ includes air rifles, air pistols, BB guns, soft air pellet guns and paintball guns. Some more powerful airguns are defined in the Arms Act 1983 as ‘firearms’; check the Arms Act or with your Arms Officer.

 

Airguns are used for target shooting, either at club, national or international competitions or on private property. More powerful airguns may be used for bird and small pest control.

 

Airguns may be used safely at home by setting up a properly constructed range in your backyard or basement. In this way you can enjoy your airgun in a safe and responsible way.

 

  • Your range must have a ‘backstop’ e.g. a solid fence or wall.

 

  • No one should be able to walk between the target and your airgun while you are shooting.

 

  • The target needs to be fixed to a ‘pellet trap’ e.g. a cardboard box full of sand.

 

  • Think about where the pellet will go if it misses the target or ricochets off paths, walls and other hard surfaces.

Special message to parents

 

Some parents worry when their child expresses an interest in airguns. But owning an airgun and using it under your supervision can be a positive step in developing safe firearm routines. An air rifle is preferable to an air pistol. It is an ideal first gun which a young person can learn to handle responsibly and safely. The NZMSC offers a free firearm safety lecture. Contact your local Police Arms Officer for details.

 

For a beginner a .177 calibre air rifle is inexpensive and will provide plenty of cheap, safe practice. The Police have published a free pamphlet on this called Beginning with air guns. Other types of airgun are available, including ‘soft’ airguns that fire a plastic pellet at fairly low velocity. Soft airguns are usually made to look like real pistols or military firearms – they are not toys and like all airguns are controlled by the Arms Act. You should never use an airgun in situations where it might be mistaken for a real firearm.

Who may use airguns?                                                                                                                    

 

Anyone under 18 years of age may use an airgun if:

 

  • They hold a New Zealand Firearms Licence* or they are under the ‘immediate supervision’ of a firearms licence holder or a person 18 years of age or older.

 

  • Anyone under 16 years of age must always be under the ‘immediate supervision’ of a firearms licence holder or a person 18 years of age or older.

 

* Note: You must be 16 years of age or older to apply for a New Zealand Firearms Licence.

 

‘Immediate supervision’ means that the licensed or older person is within reach and in control of the person using the airgun. The person providing the supervision must be able to take control of the airgun. They cannot be in possession or control of another firearm or airgun. On a range or paintball field: the rules in place, fenced field and supervision of umpires, referees or Range Officer go toward immediate supervision.

Young airgun owners

 

If you are 16 or 17 you can see the Arms Officer at a Police station about getting a firearms licence. The Arms Officer will give you a free copy of the Arms Code for you to study. You will be asked to give the names of 2 people, one a close relative. The Police will ask these people if you are a suitable person to use and possess firearms.

 

You will also be asked to attend a firearms safety lecture run by the NZMSC. Next, you sit a written test and are issued a certificate when you pass. The results of your test will be passed on to the Arms Officer. If the Arms Officer considers you a fit and proper person you will be issued with a firearms licence.

 

You can be arrested and fined and/or imprisoned:

 

  • If you possess or carry an airgun without a lawful purpose.

  • If you carelessly use an airgun.

  • For firing an airgun in a way that may endanger, annoy or frighten anyone or harm property.

  • For unlawfully pointing an airgun at someone.

  • If you sell or supply an airgun to an unlicensed person under 18. This could happen if an adult buys an airgun as a gift for a child.

Fully automatic airguns.

 

If you own fully automatic airguns you must by law have a firearms licence with a Restricted Weapons endorsement. Although the guns are air powered, their firing mechanism means they are restricted weapons. As well as the correct endorsement you will need to have secure storage facilities for your fully automatic airgun.

 

 

 

Safe storage of airguns.

 

An airgun can cause serious injury if used incorrectly. When you are not using your airgun,

it should be locked away in a safe place inaccessible to children.

 

2. Antique firearms   

 

You need a standard firearms licence if you collect firearms, plus a 'C endorsement' if you want to collect pistols and/or restricted weapons. This endorsement does not allow you to fire the weapons and demands strict storage security.

 

You need a different C endorsement for each of these situations:

 

  • you are a genuine collector with a collection that has an identifiable theme

  • you've got an heirloom pistol or restricted weapon that has special significance to you

  • you are a director or curator of a bona fide museum

  • you are employed by a bona fide theatrical group or film making organisation.

 

The fee for one or more endorsements is $204.00. Apply to your local firearms office.

NZ hunter education
3. Arms Law Requirements
 

* See Duties & Obligations

 

4. Change Of Address

 

* See Duties & Obligations

 

5. Duties and obligations of firearm owners/users                                                                
 

Arms Laws requirements: The Arms Laws require that you:

 

  • Produce your licence when required to so by a member of the Police. If you don’t have

      your licence with you when asked, you may be given 7 days in which to produce it to the Police.

 

  • Notify the Police, within 30 days, of a change in your residential address. Forms for this purpose are included in the Arms Code and on the Police website.

 

  • Notify the Police whenever any firearm you own is lost or stolen. You should record the make, model and serial number of all your firearms. Police can record it on their database for you.

 

  • Give your full name, address and date of birth if requested by the Police when you are found in possession of a firearm – including an airgun. Refusal to give these details, or giving false details, can lead to arrest.

 

  • Ensure that any person to whom you sell or supply a firearm or ammunition is the holder of a firearms licence. Persons aged 16 or 17 require a licence to buy or use an airgun. Persons buying pistols, restricted weapons or MSSAs also require a permit to procure issued by the Police. Persons buying firearms by mail order or internet are required to present verification of their firearms licence to the seller. Police issue certified forms for this purpose. We recommend that you take a copy of the person's firearms licence if you are selling a firearm.

 

  • Report any injury and death caused by any firearm, airgun, pistol or restricted weapon.

 

  • The report must be made in person and as soon as possible at any Police station or to a member of the Police.

 

6. Endorsements

 

* See Firearms Licences

 

7. Expiry of licences

 

If your licence has expired you are not legally entitled to own or use a firearm accompanied by a licensed firearms owner.

 

 The NZ Police send out reminders re licenses due to be renewed. If you wish to continue shooting:

 

  • Check your firearms license expiry date so that you can re-apply before the expiry date. If you miss the expiry date, by even a day, the cost will be $236.25. If you commence renewal before the date, the cost is rebated to $123.75, which is also the cost of a first time license.

 

8. Exporting & Importing

 

Applications to import firearms are considered on a case by case basis – discuss your proposed importation with your local police arms office. You must be clear about the category of semi-automatic firearm you are importing. A special reason is required to import MSSA rifles and shotguns.

 

If you wish to send or take any pistol, MSSA or restricted weapon out of the country you must let the Police know at least four days in advance. Standard sporting firearms can be exported without notice to Police, but you will require an import permit if you plan to bring them back into New Zealand. Obtain this before leaving New Zealand.

You should allow a month to obtain the import permit.

9. Exporting firearms, parts and ammunition from New Zealand 

 

An export permit is required before firearms, components, accessories, ammunition and other weapons may be taken out of New Zealand. These controls apply regardless of the state, completeness or working condition of the items.

 

  • Permits are issued free of charge by the International Security and Disarmament Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  • Certain exemptions exist for antique items, temporary exports for hunting trips or sporting competitions, visitors to New Zealand and exports for the purposes of repair and return. Please note that these exemptions do not apply to Pacific Island destinations.

 

Further information and application forms are available from the Business Gateway (Strategic Goods) on the Ministry’s website

www.mfat.govt.nz or by contacting the Ministry directly on: 04 439 8227 (phone) or exportcontrols@mfat.govt.nz 

 

10. Firearms Licences: A, B, C category

 

Standard firearms licence – who needs one? Anyone can use a sporting firearm without a licence if they are under the immediate supervision of a licence holder. 'Immediate supervision' means the licensed person is within reach and can control the firearm. The supervisor must not be using another firearm at the same time.

 

If you are 16 years old or over you can apply for a standard firearms licence.

 

This will allow you to have and use unsupervised:

 

  • sporting type shotguns and rifles

  • pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air rifles.

 

Endorsements                                                                                                               

You need a special addition to your licence (called an endorsement) to:

 

  • Possess or use pistols for target shooting (B endorsement)

  • Collect pistols and restricted weapons or stage theatrical performances involving pistols and restricted weapons (C endorsement)

  • Possess or use military-style semi-automatic (MSSA) rifles 

11. Exiting New Zealand

                                                                                                                    

If taking a firearm out of New Zealand with the intention of bringing it back, you will need an export permit issued by MFAT, an import permit issued by Police and a certificate of export from the Customs Department. Show these forms on your return to prove that the firearm was taken from New Zealand and not obtained overseas. You can obtain the certificate at any Customs office a few days before departure, or at the airport of departure. Allow yourself sufficient time for the formalities if you are seeking the certificate at the airport.

 

If you do not have a permit to import the firearm into your country of destination you risk forfeiture of your firearm. Contact the relevant embassy to check their laws on firearms.

12. Entering New Zealand

                                                                                                                    

You must declare any firearm to Customs and Police on entering New Zealand. An import permit issued by Police is needed for all firearms on return from overseas. It is preferable that you get this permit from the Police before you leave. If you do not have an import permit, be prepared to surrender the firearm until one is obtained, either from Police at the airport, or from your nearest Arms Officer.

 

Any firearm or parts brought or sent to New Zealand must be approved for import. Contact a Police Arms Officer to see whether the firearm or parts you want are approved.

 

You may also need to apply for an import permit. You risk prosecution if you do not have a permit to import, and the firearm or parts are not approved for import. As well, you will be required to send the firearm or parts out of the country or surrender them unconditionally to the Police for destruction. Just ask your local firearms officer first and if concerned get it in writing! 

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