Thread: Firearm licencing

I presented at the firearms office two weeks back to get a permit to procure and was informed that Police records showed that since my last renewal I no longer have the endorsement that allows me to have the firearm. I guess that the letter that looks like a B on my current FAL is just an apparition and isn’t really there. Sorted though and permit obtained and firearm properly transferred between owners but this incident has only served to reinforce my belief about the inability of Police to maintain accurate records.

Anyone know what the current timeframe is on a license renewal in the Christchurch/Canterbury area is?

Originally Posted by T.FOYE

Hang in there lads. I just had my interview and it was quite well done tbh. Wifey said the same. Very thorough and on point. Hopefully the wait times can come down under the TLS instead of lockdown levels thing.

Heya. Was this for a new license? When did you apply and how long did it take? I have just applied for mine so curious to know your experience with it.

What sort of questions did they ask you in the interview? Cheers

Originally Posted by Tall kiwi

Heya. Was this for a new license? When did you apply and how long did it take? I have just applied for mine so curious to know your experience with it.

What sort of questions did they ask you in the interview? Cheers

New application in Auckland since July 2020 until now still no reply.

Call them many times and always same answers aka waiting to have vetting officer assigned.

Many (not all) other non essential public services, which requires face to face meeting during the application process, are basically barely functioning at the moment.

Originally Posted by Tall kiwi

Heya. Was this for a new license? When did you apply and how long did it take? I have just applied for mine so curious to know your experience with it.

What sort of questions did they ask you in the interview? Cheers

Mine was a re-app and ive just been told im fine but apparently im not much of a photographer (for my license pic). Tbh its not the camera's fault. One cant polish a turd!

The questions in the interview are all common sense type ones as you'd imagine. So far its been just on 11 months to get sorted. But seeings how they extended things to cover the expired licences its just a formality now.

Applied in July 2020? Maaate, I thought I had it bad! Mine went in to Wellington on November 16th 2020, so I'm 14 months tomorrow... might get a wee cake to celebrate. My license expired while I was away, and attempts to renew while here on hol failed, so it was recorded as surrendered - hence having to start from scratch.

Fiiiinally had my interview about 6 weeks ago, and now have been asked to get a police record certificate thing from British Police, as that's where I spent the last 13 years, which is probably fair. British Police says it's 14 days to process (but undergoing delays of +7-10 days), then they have to post the original copy, so I'm calling that another month, then however long it takes to finalise the process here once they receive the police check, and get the magic bit of plastic in the post. Gunworks will be getting the green light on a Howa Mini-action .223 the very farking second it arrives!
@Tall kiwi, two schools of thought, one is to be the squeaky wheel, the other is to just remain patient and philosophical, and find something else to do in the mean time... Get your gun cabinet in (basically get it from anywhere BUT H&F or GunCity! - I got a Stealth one from Outdoor Supplies - better quality for your money, and independent!), I bought a fishing rod and threw endless amounts of gear and bait into the sea, and also tagged along on hunting trips with other people any time I could (which was just twice...). I went for the latter approach, as was worried kicking up a stink might do the opposite of speeding things up. I was just in regular contact, asking for estimated timeframes, when my referees were due to be interviewed, how long after that would my interview be, made myself available at short notice in case of any cancelled slots, emailed again saying "last time you said it was this long, any change"... So actually, reading that back, maybe an extremely polite squeaky wheel? My view is they're under the hammer, and the last thing they need is yet another angry bugger giving them grief... and I wasn't angry about it anyway.

One key issue, was that my application went in on the paper application form, then they transferred to digital a few days later, and mine fell through the gaps, so was sitting there from November till June. When they worked that out, I had to do the online application. Actually @hakka_ranger, that might be worth checking, as the timing is about right - you would have done the paper application? Have you had to do the digital one?

The guy interviewing me was awesome, and said they're all painfully aware of the delays, but availability is an issue, the process is 'very rigourous', and COVID restrictions haven't helped. Not sure I can subscribe to the theory that they have made the process harder/longer so people don't apply or give up - I don't think anyone deserves that much credit... . It's been a pretty screwed up couple of years for many reasons.

Anyway, that's my blah, blah, blah.

Heard a story of someone who had waited two years... Then a well-aimed email had it in his mailbox VERY quickly thereafter.

Fun times, eh.

Originally Posted by yeah_na_missed

Applied in July 2020? Maaate, I thought I had it bad! Mine went in to Wellington on November 16th 2020, so I'm 14 months tomorrow... might get a wee cake to celebrate. My license expired while I was away, and attempts to renew while here on hol failed, so it was recorded as surrendered - hence having to start from scratch.

Fiiiinally had my interview about 6 weeks ago, and now have been asked to get a police record certificate thing from British Police, as that's where I spent the last 13 years, which is probably fair. British Police says it's 14 days to process (but undergoing delays of +7-10 days), then they have to post the original copy, so I'm calling that another month, then however long it takes to finalise the process here once they receive the police check, and get the magic bit of plastic in the post. Gunworks will be getting the green light on a Howa Mini-action .223 the very farking second it arrives!
@Tall kiwi, two schools of thought, one is to be the squeaky wheel, the other is to just remain patient and philosophical, and find something else to do in the mean time... Get your gun cabinet in (basically get it from anywhere BUT H&F or GunCity! - I got a Stealth one from Outdoor Supplies - better quality for your money, and independent!), I bought a fishing rod and threw endless amounts of gear and bait into the sea, and also tagged along on hunting trips with other people any time I could (which was just twice...). I went for the latter approach, as was worried kicking up a stink might do the opposite of speeding things up. I was just in regular contact, asking for estimated timeframes, when my referees were due to be interviewed, how long after that would my interview be, made myself available at short notice in case of any cancelled slots, emailed again saying "last time you said it was this long, any change"... So actually, reading that back, maybe an extremely polite squeaky wheel? My view is they're under the hammer, and the last thing they need is yet another angry bugger giving them grief... and I wasn't angry about it anyway.

One key issue, was that my application went in on the paper application form, then they transferred to digital a few days later, and mine fell through the gaps, so was sitting there from November till June. When they worked that out, I had to do the online application. Actually @hakka_ranger, that might be worth checking, as the timing is about right - you would have done the paper application? Have you had to do the digital one?

The guy interviewing me was awesome, and said they're all painfully aware of the delays, but availability is an issue, the process is 'very rigourous', and COVID restrictions haven't helped. Not sure I can subscribe to the theory that they have made the process harder/longer so people don't apply or give up - I don't think anyone deserves that much credit... . It's been a pretty screwed up couple of years for many reasons.

Anyway, that's my blah, blah, blah.

Heard a story of someone who had waited two years... Then a well-aimed email had it in his mailbox VERY quickly thereafter.

Fun times, eh.

Thanks for the info. Im quietly hoping things are a little bit faster now that everything is digital, but who knows... I could be dreaming. I might have to get an air gun in the mean time to play around with and hunt bunnies at the in-laws property while I wait for my license.

I’ve just gone through the process for new licence in Northland took 5 weeks just waiting on licence in mail.

Friday- Clean application no convictions and uploaded everything digitally.
Monday - Received registration for MSC. Signed up to the last spot available 5 minutes later.
Saturday - MSC course
4 weeks later - Interviews and job done.

Vetter was good for a yarn and quite common sense even gave a bunch of tips. Questions were pretty limited as referee and wife answered most of it. He said renewals were backlogged and took priority but now they’re caught up (or closer to) things should move a bit quicker. He said delays also happen depending on workload and location of interviews etc as in his example he’s covering 3 positions across Northland due to staffing issues. He also said if it’s a clean application where everything is present and correct it makes a big difference.

Originally Posted by Northlandnewbie

I’ve just gone through the process for new licence in Northland took 5 weeks just waiting on licence in mail.

Friday- Clean application no convictions and uploaded everything digitally.
Monday - Received registration for MSC. Signed up to the last spot available 5 minutes later.
Saturday - MSC course
4 weeks later - Interviews and job done.

Vetter was good for a yarn and quite common sense even gave a bunch of tips. Questions were pretty limited as referee and wife answered most of it. He said renewals were backlogged and took priority but now they’re caught up (or closer to) things should move a bit quicker. He said delays also happen depending on workload and location of interviews etc as in his example he’s covering 3 positions across Northland due to staffing issues. He also said if it’s a clean application where everything is present and correct it makes a big difference.

Oh wow! 5 weeks is an incredible turn around. My safety course is booked for next weekend so finger crossed the interviews come along soon after.

From SSANZ today.....

MORE DELAYS to Licences
For your information, Police’s website has been updated with the following information regarding applying for licence renewals in 2022:

With more uncertainty and likely impacts due to COVID-19 Omicron in the community, all holders with licences due to expire at any time in 2022 are advised to apply for a licence renewal now.

Applying for a new licence now will allow Police to plan ahead and effectively resource processing timeframes to help counter any Omicron impacts, including physical movement restrictions, sickness, or isolation requirements effecting both Police staff and licence holders.

Police continues to have longer processing times for firearms licence applications. Renewal applications are currently being prioritised, then first time applications when the licence is for work purposes, followed by first time applications.

Licence holders are reminded if you intend on participating in your sport, hunting or food gathering activities that involve firearms you need to ensure your licence is current.

If at any point during the application renewal process your existing licence expires before you have received your new licence, you will not be able to lawfully possess or use your firearms and ammunition (unless you are under the immediate supervision of a valid firearms licence holder).

During this time, you should give your firearms and ammunition to a current firearms licence holder to store appropriately on your behalf, until your firearms licence renewal application is approved.

Applying for your renewal now will improve the likelihood that your licence will be processed on time.

The link to Police’s website is here: https://www.police.govt.nz/advice-se...ws-and-updates

Please share this information with your networks.

My license expires next year, should probably renew now.

Originally Posted by yeah_na_missed

Applied in July 2020? Maaate, I thought I had it bad! Mine went in to Wellington on November 16th 2020, so I'm 14 months tomorrow... might get a wee cake to celebrate. My license expired while I was away, and attempts to renew while here on hol failed, so it was recorded as surrendered - hence having to start from scratch.

Fiiiinally had my interview about 6 weeks ago, and now have been asked to get a police record certificate thing from British Police, as that's where I spent the last 13 years, which is probably fair. British Police says it's 14 days to process (but undergoing delays of +7-10 days), then they have to post the original copy, so I'm calling that another month, then however long it takes to finalise the process here once they receive the police check, and get the magic bit of plastic in the post. Gunworks will be getting the green light on a Howa Mini-action .223 the very farking second it arrives!
@Tall kiwi, two schools of thought, one is to be the squeaky wheel, the other is to just remain patient and philosophical, and find something else to do in the mean time... Get your gun cabinet in (basically get it from anywhere BUT H&F or GunCity! - I got a Stealth one from Outdoor Supplies - better quality for your money, and independent!), I bought a fishing rod and threw endless amounts of gear and bait into the sea, and also tagged along on hunting trips with other people any time I could (which was just twice...). I went for the latter approach, as was worried kicking up a stink might do the opposite of speeding things up. I was just in regular contact, asking for estimated timeframes, when my referees were due to be interviewed, how long after that would my interview be, made myself available at short notice in case of any cancelled slots, emailed again saying "last time you said it was this long, any change"... So actually, reading that back, maybe an extremely polite squeaky wheel? My view is they're under the hammer, and the last thing they need is yet another angry bugger giving them grief... and I wasn't angry about it anyway.

One key issue, was that my application went in on the paper application form, then they transferred to digital a few days later, and mine fell through the gaps, so was sitting there from November till June. When they worked that out, I had to do the online application. Actually @hakka_ranger, that might be worth checking, as the timing is about right - you would have done the paper application? Have you had to do the digital one?

The guy interviewing me was awesome, and said they're all painfully aware of the delays, but availability is an issue, the process is 'very rigourous', and COVID restrictions haven't helped. Not sure I can subscribe to the theory that they have made the process harder/longer so people don't apply or give up - I don't think anyone deserves that much credit... . It's been a pretty screwed up couple of years for many reasons.

Anyway, that's my blah, blah, blah.

Heard a story of someone who had waited two years... Then a well-aimed email had it in his mailbox VERY quickly thereafter.

Fun times, eh.

Thanks for the Advice @yeah_na_missed

Yes I submitted by paper based application and later re-submitted the digital form thru email. I am just pending at the "assign vetting officer to my non related referee" stage since Dec 202. I just wrote/called them not long ago. Probably I will write another email/call again in the next coming month.

It is coming to 20 months wait time soon. Never had such a long wait time in any application before and it seems like there are no leadership to maintain the quality this public services.

On the other hand, it gave me more time to prepare the saving for the equipment when the license is available.

Deterrence through deliberate delay. If I can get a new drivers licence through the post in less than a week then the unreasonable delays being experienced with FAL renewal and issue may only be explained by the words preceding this sentence.

Fair one @Rushy... can't really argue with that.
@hakka_ranger... my delay led to me spending all my hard earned cash of equipment, smashing the savings for the main event! Not helped by some of the great deals on (non-essential) stuff on here!