Thread: Positive interaction with NZ police (MSSA build)

With all the doom and gloom about the NZ police, I though I'd take a minute to tell you about the interaction I have had with several different sections over the last month or so.

I decided to build a dedicated M4 carbine clone to use in service rifle comps, as I've recently changed the stock on my "irons" rifle to A2 with a rifle buffer, and that makes the carbine length gas system even more unpleasant to shoot !

So first off, import permit. Emailed a digital import permit off to my local AO. Steve is a good dude, and always quick to reply and get things moving. Permit arrived from HQ about a week later, and a shopping spree at Brownells commenced

I emailed the customs section at Auckland International to see if I could send up the permits ahead of time. Matt was very friendly, and was happy for me to do this, and kept me in the loop when the parcels arrived.

Back to my local AO with the POL67X for a permit-to-procure, or pinky as we call them. That literally took a day to get to my postbox, and I did the build last night.

Last thing to do was to get the permit-to-procure signed off and the rifle endorsed. Rocked up at the local cop shop today around 18H00, told the lady behind reception what I wanted to do, and had a very pleasant interaction with her. She let me into a room where she could check the rifle without any fuss.

Bit of a run-around, but in all honesty, it really does not take that long, and I get to compete in a discipline I really enjoy...

Nice to hear for a change. Matt at Customs NZ is a good guy to deal with.

Originally Posted by Sasquatch

Matt at Customs NZ is a good guy to deal with.

He certainly is

I had outstanding service at the local level, until we got a new AO and Wellington decided they wanted to stick their beaks in everything. Something like switching an A cat rifle to E cat was done instantly via email, now it has been over two weeks and I am still waiting.

I've had a very pleasant and easy security inspection and an import permit received promptly in the last 10 days. No issues.

Originally Posted by Beavis

I had outstanding service at the local level, until we got a new AO and Wellington decided they wanted to stick their beaks in everything. Something like switching an A cat rifle to E cat was done instantly via email, now it has been over two weeks and I am still waiting.

Getting the PTP or the actual endorsement ?

Originally Posted by ebf

Getting the PTP or the actual endorsement ?

Getting the actual endorsement for the rifle. P2P's are still ok. To be fair it is Wellington driving the new process.

Originally Posted by Beavis

Getting the actual endorsement for the rifle. P2P's are still ok. To be fair it is Wellington driving the new process.

As long as the local guys sign your copy of the PTP it's pretty much admin on their side. Once I have the signed pinky I can go play

I have always found the front-line staff good to deal with. Dot your i's and cross your t's and things go smoothly. PNHQ is a horse of a different colour.

great to hear positive feedback. almost sounds like it used to be 40 years ago.....man we took a giant leap backwards when we stopped the "good visits" to the local station.

Our arms officer in Tokoroa is a good lady to deal with.

Originally Posted by erniec

Our arms officer in Tokoroa is a good lady to deal with.

Yes absolutely

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

great to hear positive feedback. almost sounds like it used to be 40 years ago.....man we took a giant leap backwards when we stopped the "good visits" to the local station.

We have a similar situation where I work. We used to have lots of customer contact the were for positive reasons. They were actually happy to see us, now we have a far more advanced automated system that does all the easy stuff. Only the more difficult stuff needs a person and this does tend to be a more negative interaction. (think a retail situation where the checkout is automated but the complaints desk is not- the only time you see a customer they are complaining. Except in our case it is reversed - sort of)

We no longer have anywhere near the positive interactions. With police moving towards automation, a lot of the positive friendly interactions we used to have (S43A forms, enquiries, address changes etc) will be gone and the only time you will need to see an AO will be when something has gone wrong. It also means the only time they will see clients will be when something has gone wrong.

Its the down side of automating and making things "efficient". You lose the positive interactions along with it. Which takes the joy from the job.

ebf, I hope you are giving proper recognition to the efforts of Richard Lincoln for your ability to build your M4 clone! His Court efforts (Lincoln v NZ Police 2009, Lincoln v Commissioner of Police 2012, NZ Police v Richard Lincoln 2015) have all resulted in positive decisions that made it possible. Had he not taken those stands (along with other previous cases brought by NSA supporters) then the Police would have, long ago, prevented such builds, and possibly even ownership of such items. In all those cases there was no mention of representing anybody, merely proving to the Court than the Police were acting beyond their lawful powers. Food for thought perhaps?

@gundoc, nice try if I built an A-cat your comment might be relevant...