Thread: Importing rifle sights

Originally Posted by Makros

Hi all,

Anyone imported open sights for rifles from overseas?
My interpretation is that it is treated the same as a scope and does not fall under the definition of a "part in relation to a firearm" in the Arms Act and therefore does not need a permit to import and nor can you get one because of this reason.

Is this correct?

I've done it. Police told me at the time (18 months ago) that it needed an import permit, it's my understanding that this has been relaxed a bit now. Getting the import permit was actually pretty straight forward.

I sent a scope away for repairs in December, NZ Post had to read the rules, re handling. They did handle it.
No import / export papers done. Asked scope company not to use certain words on return packaging, they obliged.
Scope arrived back last week.
I ordered a set of quick detach wood screws from aliexpress. 4 screws. $2.50 nz. To attach a Harris bipod. Intercepted at NZ boarder. Sent back. Packaging had wording that set off alarms. Attach to rifle.

The sad part, many of us had scopes seized in 2020 post the chch shooting.

I had one such scope taken, and argued the fact.

Take Notice that (2) one nightforce scope;
(3) State the
provision of
section 176
of Act that
applies.
has been seized on the 23rd January 2020 as forfeited to the Crown under (3) section
176(1)(a) of the Customs and Excise Act 2018, all goods that have been unlawfully
imported into New Zealand
(4) Insert
particulars as
to cause of
forfeiture
on the grounds that (4) this item was imported into New Zealand at the Auckland
International Mail Centre on or about the 2nd August 2019 via the New Zealand Post
Insured mail system with track and trace numberCO294907843NZ; and
pursuant to section 16 of the Arms Act 1983 this item was caused to be brought into New
Zealand without a permit having been issued by a member of the Police.
In accordance with section 16(1)(b) of the Arms Act 1983, this item has been found to
meet the description of:
any part of a firearm, pistol, military style semi-automatic firearm, starting pistol, or
restricted weapon.
The importation of this item without a permit, in breach of section 16 of the Arms Act
1983, makes it forfeit under section 176(1)(a)of the Customs and Excise Act 2018.
Dated at Auckland this 23rd day of January 2020

This was what the notes stated. At the time they told me ANYTHING attached to a firearm was consider a 'firearm part'

well Im rather attached to my firearms...and Im really pissed off with NZ Post trucks with gozillion lumen headlights and winkwink wanker markerlights dazzling the begeezus out of me at night especially on narrow bridges

just as well I dont want them to carry anything.