Thread: Firearm licencing

Originally Posted by planenutz

Yep... you got that right!

Its a shame they've fucked up what was a pretty good system. The new forms now ask you to fill in answers to the questions they used to ask you during your interview so the inverview process is slightly shorter and easier. That said, I think the 'old' system was better because it provided the vetting officer an opportunity to talk to the applicant and to get a better understanding of their thoughts, motivations and plans. Now you're putting those down on paper but with time to plan your response.

My work colleagues in Australia keep telling me their FAL process is long and difficult. So much so that it provides disincentive to anyone who thinks they want to go down that road. Their perception is NZ has a much easier system to navigate. I disagree - our process was always more robust and in fact it was always more involved than theirs. They don't have face to face interviews for a start. They do have a "stand down time" but that is far shorter than our current bureaucrat-imposed compulsory stand down time of a year or more due to the inefficiencies and lack of man-power in the relevant departments. To say this is all very disappointing is a bloody understatement.

I wish you and your son luck. Its a process, but one you just need to knuckle down into and see through to the end. Damned if I'm going to let added layers of Labour-government-induced bullshit put me or my family off enjoying my recreational activities just because of a little bit more paperwork.

Good onya.

Originally Posted by Pete_D

Does anyone know if you can submit your application etc before your 16th Birthday just to avoid even further delays ?

I completed the at home interview and security inspection before turning 16. Was a while ago though.


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Weird 2 years ago the MSC course was the last thing I did. Submitted form, did interviews, referees got interviewed, did my course licence duly arrived.

I wasn't able to do the course before any of the other things had happened.

Just a quick question do you have to wait for the license card before bying a firearm?
Got confirmation that license has bee granted but the card will take 6 weeks to arrive.

Originally Posted by Tigerbarb

Just a quick question do you have to wait for the license card before bying a firearm?
Got confirmation that license has bee granted but the card will take 6 weeks to arrive.

Pretty sure you will have to wait


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Originally Posted by Tigerbarb

Just a quick question do you have to wait for the license card before bying a firearm?
Got confirmation that license has bee granted but the card will take 6 weeks to arrive.

I have obtained my license number separately from the actual license.
Talk to your local firearms office - they may able to provide you with your number.
A retailer can then phone them to confirm the details.

That's what happened to me when I was waiting for a replacement license.

I applied for a first time License December 2020, Will be a 9 month wait by the time I do the course in September 21.

What was interesting is I emailed the FAO a couple weeks ago about the wait time, I then received a confirmation letter the next day that was dated a couple months back.. wtf

Also is anyone able to tell me if the "practical training" after the test is a 1 on 1 or a group activity? cheers

Originally Posted by CovertHunter

I applied for a first time License December 2020, Will be a 9 month wait by the time I do the course in September 21.

What was interesting is I emailed the FAO a couple weeks ago about the wait time, I then received a confirmation letter the next day that was dated a couple months back.. wtf

Also is anyone able to tell me if the "practical training" after the test is a 1 on 1 or a group activity? cheers

Bad news for you but it's probably going to be much longer than a 9 month wait, after the test you still have to wait until the AO gets in touch for the safe inspection and interview. In my case that was 4 months after I did the test. Then you'll have to wait after that for them to tell you the outcome. And then you'll have to wait more to get the actual licence card in the mail.

The test itself is harder that I expected, they get everyone to sit it right at the beginning and you can only get 2 questions out of 30 wrong, except for the first 7 or 8 questions where you can't get any wrong. If you fail this test you'll be able to resit it with the alternate version at the end of the course. If you fail this then that's it. Don't underestimate the test, just under half the group I was with failed both attempts (although the instructor did say this was the most he had ever seen fail, maybe the group I was in was particularly bad). If I hadn't studied the whole arms code and relied on the online modules I would have failed it.

The practical training is probably the easiest part of the day. They split everyone into groups of 4 - 5 and you take turns practicing moving bolt action and semi auto (deactivated) .22s through the various states (load, action, instant, unload) and saying what state the firearm is in out loud. The course I did had no functioning pump actions but I believe they use these as well. The instructor walks around observing and if you visibly have no idea, are pointing firearms in an unsafe direction, or generally not inspiring confidence he may make notes and notify the police of his thoughts. How I found this out was that one lady in the group I was with was terrifyingly incompetent to the point that most people noticed and / or remarked on it. I asked the instructor after the course what happens in these cases as she technically did pass the theory test.

Originally Posted by Fatberg

Bad news for you but it's probably going to be much longer than a 9 month wait, after the test you still have to wait until the AO gets in touch for the safe inspection and interview. In my case that was 4 months after I did the test. Then you'll have to wait after that for them to tell you the outcome. And then you'll have to wait more to get the actual licence card in the mail.

The test itself is harder that I expected, they get everyone to sit it right at the beginning and you can only get 2 questions out of 30 wrong, except for the first 7 or 8 questions where you can't get any wrong. If you fail this test you'll be able to resit it with the alternate version at the end of the course. If you fail this then that's it. Don't underestimate the test, just under half the group I was with failed both attempts (although the instructor did say this was the most he had ever seen fail, maybe the group I was in was particularly bad). If I hadn't studied the whole arms code and relied on the online modules I would have failed it.

The practical training is probably the easiest part of the day. They split everyone into groups of 4 - 5 and you take turns practicing moving bolt action and semi auto (deactivated) .22s through the various states (load, action, instant, unload) and saying what state the firearm is in out loud. The course I did had no functioning pump actions but I believe they use these as well. The instructor walks around observing and if you visibly have no idea, are pointing firearms in an unsafe direction, or generally not inspiring confidence he may make notes and notify the police of his thoughts. How I found this out was that one lady in the group I was with was terrifyingly incompetent to the point that most people noticed and / or remarked on it. I asked the instructor after the course what happens in these cases as she technically did pass the theory test.

Thanks for that, very helpful, I wasn't sure what to expect and there is no in-depth info about the course other than the description when booking it, cheers

Unfortunately, I think you are right about my license, I'm not expecting it until next year especially after reading other guys' experiences on here. I will be staying on the AO case from now on though.

The test isn't too bad if you're prepared. I watched/read the online modules, skimmed the arms code and repeated until I could pass all of the online quizzes with no wrong answers. There were no left field questions in the actual test, I felt, if you're familiar with the online tests. There were about 12 of us on the day of the course, and two failed the test on the first run. As far as I know, they passed the second round.

That's bad luck with the wait for the course referral. That was the only prompt part of my experience when applying.

Edit: whoops, I skimmed the Arms Act, not the code. I recommend reading the code in full.

Originally Posted by bumblefoot

Interesting; a few of days ago had the firearm licencing dept ring to ask how long ago my last long term relationship was. I told them 6-years. They said that if it was 5-years or under ago they now have to contact your ex to speak to them too..... When she rang me she said that the licence will be through soon

That is disturbing given the nature of relationships generally. I still talk to ex GFs from way back, and ex-wife, but, most guys I know dont, and would get 'bad-press' from them, if they were interviewed. This is the most dodgy thing i have heard so far. Police would know full-well, that most recent 'Ex's', would only have negative things to say. Why would they pursue this avenue, where there isnt some Legal-history of abuse etc. ? (you wouldnt get a licence if there was, and they would already know about it). People need to be informed about this...'No Officer, I'm gay, Barry over there was my last fling..hey Barry, should I be allowed to own a firearm ?'...Barry..'Yeh mate, absolutely'...See Officer..all good...you're not gay by any chance ?'

I applied in July 2021, took the exam in Sept 2021, I am still waiting for the vetting officer to contact my reference today. Of course this may be the Aucklander usual waiting time

I am always patient but I think this is too long to be honest.

Originally Posted by hakka_ranger

I applied in July 2021, took the exam in Sept 2021, I am still waiting for the vetting officer to contact my reference today. Of course this may be the Aucklander usual waiting time

I am always patient but I think this is too long to be honest.

Do you mean 2020?

Don't understand you're date..

I got mine this week. Put my application in back in Feb I think.

Applied late January 2020 got licence a week ago .