Thread: Moved from Australia to NZ.

Welcome,

I am also an Australian expat.

Originally Posted by langitaan

I'm merely trying to understand the inherent differences, as Im a license holder in both countries. As a lot of you would know getting a license in Australia is extremely difficult, and semi autos are essentially banned except for dealers and professional pest destroyers. Also different types of firearms are allowed in the different states. Pump action shotguns are ok on a A cat license in NSW but banned in VIC, but lever action is banned in NSW and ok in VIC. Pump action rifles are ok in both states. It's all very strange.

I found getting a licence in NT significantly easier than NZ.

Pump action shotguns (magazine of 5 or less) are Cat C in both NSW and VIC.
Lever Action is not banned in NSW (it has recently been moved to Cat B)

The National Firearms Agreement put it place consistent laws around Australia.

Originally Posted by langitaan

But a set of rules and operation for all ranges is standard and not range dependant in AUS, so not a bad thing, just something you have to remember at each different range here in NZ. Also the access to ranges can be dependant on times and also weather, again something I haven't encountered before. Also the ranges seem to be limited and restricted in distance, this makes sense there isn't a 1km range close to the city, but I had access to a 600m range only 40mins from Melbourne.

Look at Clevedon Rifle Club, they have ranges out to 1000m or Auckland Shooting Club they are looking at having some long rang facilities in the future.

Originally Posted by langitaan

Also there has been government initiatives in AUS that encourage licensed shooters to sign up to help farmers with pest control, so the dialogue between farmers and shooters is more open and information is shared rather than kept secret.

Almost every single National Park in New Zealand allows you to hunt during most, if not all of the year. You won't find that in AUS.

Hunting: Things to do

Originally Posted by langitaan

Also there are ranges here that only allow limited access to the range at certain times, again something I have not encountered before, every range i have visited in AUS allows you to arrive and leave during cease fire, and thats normally every half hour.

Sounds like you are talking about NZ Deer Stalkers on the North Shore. It has restrictions due to the access to the range. Most other ranges have no restrictions on arriving or leaving during the course of fire.