New airgun import laws?
Printed From: Kiwi Airgunners
Category: New to airguns?
Forum Name: Tips and things to look out for
Forum Description: Thinking of getting into airgunning? ask you questions here
URL: www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=463
Printed Date: 29 Apr 2024 at 8:26am
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Topic: New airgun import laws?
Posted By: Jaydinah
Subject: New airgun import laws?
Date Posted: 19 Feb 2020 at 1:47am
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I've had a cheap simple air rifle for a while just for plinking but wanted to step it up to something abit more fun. Following the new firearms laws does anyone know if its now legal to purchase an airgun with the traits of a 'MSSA'. As far as I've been able to read there's no longer such a thing but the rules regarding airguns tend to be overlooked or not touched on whatsoever. Anyone have any idea?
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Replies:
Posted By: Pauly5
Date Posted: 19 Feb 2020 at 7:28am
I must admit I don't know the rules very well. What gun in particular are you interested in? There are a couple on the market that have the "AR" style grip.
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Posted By: Jaydinah
Date Posted: 19 Feb 2020 at 8:17am
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There's nothing particular I have in mind, just want some clarity on the rules. To use the most extreme example I can provide, the Sig MCX and Sig MPX (though not what I'm after) have multiple traits of a MSSA. What I'm wondering is if these rules are still applicable to airguns as they aren't now with firearms (like a 22. Rim fire)
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Posted By: dvlnme
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2020 at 8:45am
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in our recent experience with our local cops who know us both very well personallyand have done for years,nz polices attitude towards airguns has changed a great deal recently,not only are they calling all airguns firearms but treating them as firearms as well,bear in mind these local country cops all have know us personally for many years,and have never had any issuses with either of us over firearms or airguns,the police position regarding importing airguns privately seems be if you can buy one here from a dealer you dont need to import one and wont issuse an import permit,this seems to apply with all airguns from softair thru to pcps,they dont like pcps and consider them to be just as dangerous as firearms these days,we have known all our local country cops personally for many years and until recently we allways got on very well with each other,but we have noticed their attitude towards us has changed significantly,they now allways go about in pairs and armed when visiting any property that has a firearms licence holder in residence around here,its allmost like they have become afraid of anyone holding a firearms licence now,why it should be this way is anyones guess,but seems be how its become now,this is the country out here there are airguns and firearms every where,but never used be a problem,but suddenly its become a problem for our local cops,most of whom we have all known personally for years and allways got on well with,there has definatly been a very significant change in attitude from our local cops and how they now interacte with us thats a little concerning to most of us locals thats certainly not winning hearts and minds or contributing to maintaining our once good relationship between us,our police are distancing themselves from the community and what had allways been a friendly cooperative relationship of mutual benifit is fast becoming one of them and us because to us it now appears as if the police no longer trust any of us and as they will soon find out thats not going to work out well for them as we are now begining to no longer trust the police, a bit off topic but still realevent i think,dont expert it to get any better trying to import an airgun as they have essentually now banned private imports of airguns. cheers mike
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Posted By: Pauly5
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2020 at 9:42am
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When I imported an Edgun matador a while ago, they asked why I don't buy from a NZ shop, and why this one? So i'm sure they are stricter now. There are also new pcps that look just like AR style guns available. Just google British shooting show videos on Youtube.
I would also expect that police monitor these forums/social media, which I don't have a problem with.
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Posted By: Jaydinah
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2020 at 3:44pm
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Yeah the issue I'm having is that before the laws changed after the Christchurch shootings, it was clear that if an airgun had the appearance of being a pistol or had any features that would make a firearm a MSSA (such as a pistol grip or magazine appearing to hold more than 10 rounds) it would be illegal to import without a permit. Since MSSA's are no longer a thing, you can now buy an AR style rimfire rifle on an Acat license (which you could not before). What I'm wondering is if this applies to airguns also. I've found no material from either police or customs and judging by the way the laws were hastily changed without much though I wouldn't be surprised if they really don't know?
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Posted By: Pauly5
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2020 at 4:13pm
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Just look at the FX Dreamline. 18 shot mag, tactical style grip. This can be purchased in NZ. I think it is probably easier to say no, than decide otherwise. Look at all the airsoft guns available.
Give it a go, it's not illegal to fill out forms, go meet your firearms officer, contact customs, just make sure you get names and emails, and have a valid reason for buying that gun. I was fortunate, because I do pest control, but did say to the officer that the gun I was getting, wasn't available off the shelf in NZ, but did have a service agent here. I tried to come across as a responsible buyer.
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Posted By: Jaydinah
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2020 at 4:26pm
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Yeah I probably won't go through all the trouble as I was just considering a co2 rifle or pistol for plinking and a bit of fun. There doesn't seem to be anywhere in Canterbury anymore that sells them? I've got a more powerful break barrel rifle that does the job for birds and mice when it's nessicary. Thanks for the insight though 👍
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Posted By: Pauly5
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2020 at 11:08pm
Have you tried Youngs airguns? they will send guns. There's also Airguns NZ, David is good to deal with.
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Posted By: dvlnme
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2020 at 6:13am
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i never would have believed our gun laws would end up being worse than the UK but i was proved so wrong on that one,i am now jealous of how good the poms have got it today and considering how bad it is in the UK ,we have it worse and its only going to get evan worse here,they are making things up as they go along here now,getting an import permit for any airgun depends very much on the attitude of who you are dealing with,not allways what the laws states,getting an import permit now is like buying a lottery ticket,the whole system is a total shambles,but thats bout par for the course with this disfunctional government and nz police these days,neither have a clue what they are doing on this and most other things as well. cheers mike
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Posted By: Jaydinah
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2020 at 12:13pm
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Yeah it seems that politicians making decisions don't take the time to educate themselves and make decisions based on how scary something looks rather than how dangerous it could be. An example of this would be that getting an air rifle with a pistol grip or a pcp or something like that can be very difficult if not impossible without a middleman like a dealer. However I could go into hunting and fishing and buy a compound bow and some hunting broadheads without any permits or knowledge how to use the equipment. I don't want to bash on the government because I do believe they have a tough job but I wish that they would lighten up a bit and realise that the only ones they are hurting are the people following the rules. Firearm and airgun owners here are a minority and its only natural the lawmakers will listen to the much larger group that's terrified of anything that shoots after events like March 15. Just unfortunate that they don't seem ready to educate themselves on the matter
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Posted By: dvlnme
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2020 at 9:22am
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the shooting sports and owning firearms and airguns are under a very real threat y in this country,there is definatly a polititical agenda behind these new gun laws and we have a police force now very willingly behind the government for their own undisclosed reasons,its deluding ourselves if we think it stop with this latest new serres of draconian gun laws,it will only get worse as history proves that once a government starts down this path they will continue to walk that path,they will continue to use the lie these laws are required for public saftey,when there is never any proof it makes the public any safer from idiots and criminals using guns for crime,there is no evidence an armed police force makes the public any safer from idiots and criminals with guns,so be prepared for more evan tougher and meaningless gun laws and airguns you can be sure are next on their list for same treatment,will this make the country or the public any safer,i seriously doubt that that it will,laws only affect the law abiding,idiots and criminals by their very nature dont obey the law,that is why we call them idiots and criminals eh!!!polititions never seem to grasp the fact that they cannot legistate idiots and criminals out of existance,yet continually try to doso,this is the defination of stupid,when you do the same dumb thing over and over again and get the same dumb results that is the definition of stupidity,which therefore defines the the quality of the polititions we have in this country today eh!! cheers mike
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Posted By: Parallax
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2020 at 10:58pm
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I applied for an import permit for an Evanix Air Max - which is an semi auto bullpup PCP. I had a nice chat with the lady from the FA-dep. which was in charge and so far I just missed to add the 'export country' on the application. I told her that I had not made a final decision where to buy it, as it makes no sense to annoy the dealers to tell them later that the application failed.... She understood and I told her that I will see where I can get it and let her know asap. Unfortunately there is NO shop willing to export to NZ, not even our friends in Aussie, seems they are all afraid of the work involved to get it out of where ever and into NZ. So finally I told the lady that its not possible to import it as no one want's to export it -so its not necessary to proceed with the application. If I would have found an exporter, I would have been able to get a semi auto bullpup pcp. Just apply for what ever you like, they can not do much more than say no. good luck
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Posted By: dvlnme
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2020 at 9:06am
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as i said in previous post a lot seems to come down to the individual officer you are dealing with,there seems be no consistant policy on import applications from my experience its a bit of a lottery,you never know if you guna win til you try.hopefully when things settle down,things will improve and police import policy on private imports becomes more consistant and set standard rules come in,seems be bit up in the air at present with much being left to individual officers opinions.i dont think they have any particualer set rules yet.dealers having simialler issuses too. cheers mike
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