Thread: One-off Firearm part Import question

Hi guys,

Just to double check I've interpreted the rule correctly, I want to purchase from overseas a custom A-Cat (because it's going on my A-cat AR) ejection port dust cover. As it's not an 'Action' or part of the listed 'restricted' firearms as shown below, the way I read it, I don't need an Police paperwork. How do you guys interpret this and has anyone imported an accessory like this before? I don't want to get myself in the shit.

Cheers.

The section 16 of the Arms Act 1983 requires that:

A person must not, otherwise than pursuant to a permit issued to the person by a member of the Police, bring or cause to be brought or sent into New Zealand—
(a) a firearm, pistol, military style semi-automatic firearm, starting pistol, restricted airgun, or restricted weapon; or
(b) any part of a firearm, pistol, military style semi-automatic firearm, starting pistol, or restricted weapon.
In terms of ‘parts’. ‘Part’ is defined in section 2 of the Arms Act 1983 as:

part—
(a) in relation to a pistol, restricted weapon, or military style semi-automatic firearm, includes any thing, such as a butt, stock, magazine, silencer, or sight, which, while not essential for the discharge by a pistol, restricted weapon, or military style semi-automatic firearm of any shot, bullet, missile, or other projectile, is designed or intended to be an integral part of a pistol, restricted weapon, or military style semi-automatic firearm; and
(b) in relation to any other firearm, means the action for that firearm
Section 18 of the Arms Act 1983 provides for the issuance of permits to import for the purposes of section 16 of the Arms Act 1983. There is no provision for Police to issue a permit to import for components of firearms, other than those that fall within the definition of ‘part’ above.

To summarise, the only component of a firearm (that is not a pistol, restricted weapon or MSSA) that requires a permit to import is the action of that firearm.