Thread: Firearms Licence Application Update - 4 October 22

So I just received this email from the Firearm licensing office...

Dear Licence Holder

I want to provide you with an update on how we are managing firearms licence applications.

Our priority is to reduce the firearms licence applications in the backlog, with the aim of having most of these applications resolved by 31 March 2023.

Police acknowledges the delay in processing times for firearms licence applications. Several factors have contributed to delays. These include strengthened licensing processes to mitigate the risk of harm in our communities, and COVID-19.

The dedicated Historical File Support Team was set up to address the backlog of firearms licence applications. We have expanded the team substantially to help reduce outstanding applications in the long-standing pipeline. This is in addition to the increase already made to our permanent Arms staff workforce.

It is a priority for our team to process these applications.

The priorities for applications are:

- renewals with endorsements,
- other renewals,
- reinstatements (this is where someone has previously held a licence and it has expired)
- new applications.

As we complete the renewals we will deal with the historical new applications when they are in the same geographic location.

Please get in touch with our team if you require your licence for work purposes.

Our process

Our team may reach out to you by phone or text. Texts are sent on Fridays and their purpose is to advise you that someone from Police will be in touch in the next 5 working days to organise an appointment to meet with you.

For a new application there is a minimum of three in person interviews.

Things that you can do to support us

When our team reaches out to you to make appointments, please make yourself available. Where possible we may ask you to have your referees meet the Police staff at your address so all the interviews can be completed in one day, plus the security checks.

Our team is working to a clear process and timeframe, and we ask that you please work with us.

Please ensure that your firearms storage security meets the current guidelines. In recent months some people have failed the security inspection because their storage has not been of robust construction, or it has not been fixed properly to two surfaces i.e. the floor and a stud in the wall.

Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the team on: support.fal@police.govt.nz

Kind regards

So my question is - what is the definition of a "historical new applicant"? My application was submitted in January this year, will mine (and others submitted this year) be completed after 31 March?