Thread: Importing rifle sights

Originally Posted by LJPRMC

Nope , that would be wrong . I imported a new scope last year and it definetly needed the police paper work permit to get it in . Did another import for two other scopes later and (again ) needed a police import doc . Gotta tell you it really pissed me off (both times ) so i asked what was going on .
here in a nut shell is what the police told me ...... " if it can be fitted to a firearm , Its a firearm part " so I posed this question ... what if i lost the screw from the front of my stock that holds the sling on . Would i need a permit to get that in . YES!!! So, beware . NZ post wont carry anything that is "firearm related" from overseas , DHL are extremely sensitive as well, and said they wouldn,t either .
Last thing to know .... if you send your" Firearm part" (scope , screw , anything ) out of the country for a repair , you need an import permit to get it back in and remember NZpost wont touch it nor will DHL .
cheers
les

Sounds like the police are making their own interpretation of the law instead of applying the Arms Act:
part, in relation to any firearm or restricted weapon,—
(a) means—
(i) any component that, of itself, is essential to the discharge of any shot, bullet, missile, or other projectile from the firearm or restricted weapon; and
(ii) any component that is exclusively designed to be, or is intended to be, an integral part of the firearm or restricted weapon (for example, a butt, stock, magazine, or other component that feeds or contributes to feeding ammunition to the firearm or restricted weapon); and
(b) includes the following components or accessories that can be fitted to, or adapted to fit, a firearm or restricted weapon:
(i) grips:
(ii) frames:
(iii) chassis systems:
(iv) magazine adapters:
(v) magazine couplers:
(vi) magazine loaders:
(vii) flash suppressors:
(viii) silencers:
(ix) folding or telescoping stocks; but
(c) does not include the following:
(i) pistol carbine conversion kits:
(ii) air pistol carbine conversion kits

I'll make some enquiries with the e-mail above, but I'm happy to query the interpretation of part under the act if they take that approach as it's not correct on reading the Arms Act. Police are welcome to their opinion, I'm interested in the law.
Given sights or scopes are not essential to the discharge of any shot, bullet, missile or projectile and do not appear in the list of components or accessories I read that as I do not need an import permit likewise you don't need a mail order form to send within New Zealand, unlike parts and those accessories listed.

That would be great . The drama of the process and appoval put me right off. Even overseas companies are saying there carrier ie DHL wont deliver to NZ if its a firearm part .

Originally Posted by LJPRMC

That would be great . The drama of the process and appoval put me right off. Even overseas companies are saying there carrier ie DHL wont deliver to NZ if its a firearm part .

Yeah it's getting pretty annoying. even aside from companies declining to carry.
I along with others got caught up in the USPS suspension of service to NZ last year. I had a press on its way. It got returned to sender but at least I got a full refund, shipping included. The cost of using an alternative shipping company was prohibitive.

I had one experience with FEDEX where once it arrived here they temporarily lost it.

I now avoid buying anything from the States.