Rifle permits for NZ

jakkals

Active Member
Has anyone on here took rifles or trophies to NZ in the past, I am moving there at the end of of August and I have been told I need a import permit for my rifles but have no idea where to start, I also have a few trophies I want to take too but have no idea where to start with that either.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Frans.
 
If you are lucky Taff might spot this thread as he is a year or so ahead of you and already out there.
 
You need to contact the NZ police to get the ball rolling, they will then tell you what forms you need to fill in etc The forms and information if I remember correctly are on the NZ police web site.
I sent some rifle parts to a hunter last year and the process is the same.
 
Hi there, bringing guns depends on who you talk to, you cannot get a import license unless you have a NZ license, which you cannot get until your here, some police will tell you, what I did was bring them on the plane with you, tell the police at the airport you need a visitors license but have no return flight as you are waiting to see how things go, you will need a address that you are staying at. I spoke to a guy last week who got a import license at the airport?, the worst that will happen is they will hold your guns until you get a license. Not sure on trophys but a good moving company should sort it for you, I used Anglo pacific really good. I will do some homework this end and let you know the best option.
 
Hi Taff.

Thank you for that info, that really helps, I'll go over then apply for my licence then get the import permit, I'm not in too much of a hurry for my rifles just now so I can leave them with a shipping company that also have a RFD licence and when I have my import permit they can just ship them to me, just need to find out about the trophies now.

Frans.
 
The answer to this partly depends on how your firearms and trophies are arriving in NZ, and I'm assuming they will all be shipped in a container with the rest of your personal possessions?
I moved from the UK to NZ in 2001 with both firearms and trophies. Things may have changed a bit since then but the short answer is that it will be relatively straightforward for you. Trophies will need to be fumigated on arrival and if any species appear on any CITES schedules then it will be very helpful if you have paperwork for them.
Do you still have a UK FAC? I suggest when you arrive in NZ (likely to be Auckland airport), proceed to the police counter in the baggage hall and get a tourist firearms licence (NZ$25, cash only), which will be issued because you hold a foreign firearms licence. You can then use this to have your weapons released to you when they arrive at the port. Because you're moving there I would still start the process for a full NZ FAC as as you arrive -could take a few weeks. Got to go now but feel free to ask specific questions if you have any.
 
Jakkals
I'm in a similar boat to you.
Down there in September for an interview, with the view to having the house packed here in October and being there permanently in December.
Trophies wise there is lots of information on the Ministry of Primary Industries. I've got 20 odd shoulder mounts to go and none are CITES. Having spoken directly to MPI they are fine with these going if they have been professionally mounted. They suggested wooden crates, labelled and with a photo of the mounts on the front. The crates have to be made ISPM15.
I've been really disappointed by all but 1 of the 8 firms I've had quote for the move. The only good one has been Doree Bonner. The rest were terrible and were really unhelpful about taxidermy etc.
Rifle wise I'll still have a UK address for a little while so will move there when the house is packed and I already have a safe there. Then I'll do as Olorin suggests. The moving companies said they can move firearms but I'm not prepared to do that. I would rather take the Air New Zealand flight with it and get a visitors permit and then apply for full permit. I suspect when you are in NZ you will have to surrender the UK firearms permit.
 
Jakkals
I'm in a similar boat to you.
Down there in September for an interview, with the view to having the house packed here in October and being there permanently in December.
Trophies wise there is lots of information on the Ministry of Primary Industries. I've got 20 odd shoulder mounts to go and none are CITES. Having spoken directly to MPI they are fine with these going if they have been professionally mounted. They suggested wooden crates, labelled and with a photo of the mounts on the front. The crates have to be made ISPM15.
I've been really disappointed by all but 1 of the 8 firms I've had quote for the move. The only good one has been Doree Bonner. The rest were terrible and were really unhelpful about taxidermy etc.
Rifle wise I'll still have a UK address for a little while so will move there when the house is packed and I already have a safe there. Then I'll do as Olorin suggests. The moving companies said they can move firearms but I'm not prepared to do that. I would rather take the Air New Zealand flight with it and get a visitors permit and then apply for full permit. I suspect when you are in NZ you will have to surrender the UK firearms permit.

you will have to surrender your UK FAC , but keep it until you have your NZ license then return it, this is what I did, getting a license will take about 6 months at the moment as there are a lot of people up for renewal. One thing when carrying firearms on the plane is to make sure the country's you are travelling through will allow your guns to pass through, my son and some friends had to change flights at the last moment as there guns could not be transported through the transient country even though they were still in the hold of the plane.
 
Out of interest Taff, do you know if there's any way of doing a stopover with the airline holding the rifle whilst you're having a rest from that bitch of a 32 hour trip? Had a trip to HK recently & my 6'3" frame was nearly crippled & I'm not sure I could do that NZ trip again straight through, although I've done it a few times when I was younger.
 
I know what you mean about the trip, not sure about stop overs as I have never stopped, just ploughed on through, but being 5" 4 it's not as bad.
 
Thanks for the info SWS, I contact new Zealand air today, they do fly with firearms still but they told me I need a temporary import permit for NZ to transit through America, is this true?

I found out today there is a guy in Edinburgh that treat and seal the trophies and then shipping company send them and nothing need doing when they arrive in NZ, so I'll most likely will do it that way, the only thing I'll need to do is to check that BA will fly with my rifles to London and get a temporary import permit.
 
Regarding stopovers en-route, I went through Hong Kong to NZ with Cathay on one occasion (admittedly a few years ago now). I was taking a rifle with me an wanted to stay with friends for a few days in HK so I arranged directly with the airport authorities to hold my firearm at the airport. It was actually a straightforward process, and I think provided a bit of excitement for airport staff on an otherwise dull day. I was met by about a dozen officials as I disembarked in HK and escorted through the airport to complete paperwork etc. and then sent on my way. 2 weeks later when I continued my journey to NZ my rifle was waiting for me and off I went. All free of charge. Might be different now but worth looking into.
An import permit is easy to arrange in NZ (walk into any police station and have one in your hand in 10 minutes), but difficult if you're overseas. If you are not stopping off and only transiting through I would be surprised if paperwork is required until you arrive in NZ, but some airlines may require it. Air NZ is normally very good with firearms.
My advice is that unless you feel strongly against it, consider shipping weapons with the rest of your possessions in a container (unless of course you're not shipping anything). If you have more than 2 than I don't think it's an option to carry as luggage anyway. When I moved I shipped ALL my stuff from a 3 bed house, including weapons, multiple trophies and a motorcycle and ended up filling a 40' container. It also gives you more time to prepare paperwork before everything arrives.
If there is a company that will pack trophies in such a way that no treatment is required on arrival in NZ then it's certainly worth looking into. As has been mentioned, timber crates are the best solution, but the timber will need to be treated and certified. I still wouldn't be overly surprised though if on arrival the authorities still wanted them fumigated........the best laid plans of mice and men and all that.
 
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