Thread: Firearm License unrelated referee

Need some advice for a mate. Ideally from someone who has to deal with a similar situation.
He is a keen hunter and was a pest controller in South Africa and just moved here last month. He has his NZ residency and is really keen to get his firearm license.
He has his missus as first referee however the second referee must be unrelated, must know him for at least 3years and live in NZ.

I have only known him for few months so no point putting my name up and unfortunately all the other person he knows here are related:brother, in law ect.

Anyone been in this situation? Hopefully there is a way for him to make it work otherwise he is looking at a 3years wait…

Is there an issue with nominating a referee in South Africa and letting the bettors do the work or is it a stipulation that the referee must be in New Zealand? Surely in this modern world with FaceTime type communication authenticating the referee and speaking directly to them is not difficult?

He should talk with firearms licensing. The In law might be acceptable.

I wasn't allowed to be one for my nephew a even though we are only related through marriage. But definitely speak to the vettors

Originally Posted by Rushy

Is there an issue with nominating a referee in South Africa and letting the bettors do the work or is it a stipulation that the referee must be in New Zealand? Surely in this modern world with FaceTime type communication authenticating the referee and speaking directly to them is not difficult?

You would think so but no they want the referee living here:

I don't see an issue with making foreigners wait 3 years for a FAL. After all, why take the chance of shortcutting the process when the consequences of getting it wrong will backfire on all other FAL holders. That's what happened last time and remember how that turned out?

Originally Posted by schwen

I don't see an issue with making foreigners wait 3 years for a FAL. After all, why take the chance of shortcutting the process when the consequences of getting it wrong will backfire on all other FAL holders. That's what happened last time and remember how that turned out?

Have another read at the subject I not asking whether foreigners should wait 3 years or not

With half of SA's population already living in NZ there must be at least one recent import that has known him for longer than 3 years? Ha!

Yeah this is a bit of a hard one, this was something that was really tightened up on in terms of documentation sign off for new licencing and for some reason the people in licensing are a little reluctant to bend any of the rules now. Might pay to discuss with the licensing types, there may be an option for a visitor's licence or something down that line referencing the licence from SA as well? And it would be interesting to note if the otherwise unrelated in-law is acceptable, would understand for a nephew as that is a relative under the common interpretation but an otherwise unrelated in-law would seem to be within the requirements to me?

I think they are pretty tight on the Referees living in NZ and not being related when it`s not your next of kin. He can still hunt with a mate or try his hand at Bow or Crossbow for the mean time. My understanding is if he`s living in NZ that excludes him from a visitor license, I think they are only for up to six months or you need to reapply each time you want to come into the country.

What people arent saying is it all sounds a bit like Tarrant's situation. Looking at it from that point of view, the FSA may be a bit reluctant to accept an in-law, but they, and only they, can say what will be acceptable. I had to wait for a few years before I applied, but by then, my referees actually had known me long enough.

Check out applying for a visitors licence until all the other boxes can be ticked.
But get hold of someone in the system who knows and discuss the situation with them.
If the cards are all on the table, your mate will probably get a bit of a grilling, but I would expect it should be achievable.

Contact the FSA. Despite what some eejits on here say, the FSA has been quite helpful and efficient in answering any queries I’ve had. Not always the answer I’ve wanted but. Opinion’s don’t always give reliable info.

Yep will advise him to send an email. He went to main police station in town , talked to the firearm authority desk officer. It wasn’t really helpful, he even got told the unrelated referee should be a firearm owner ideally which isn’t true or mentioned anywhere.

Visitor permit could be a good idea in main time or he will just bow hunt and hunt with me.

Cheers

There appears to be an avenue for a License , but a Visitors License is off the cards . https://www.firearmssafetyauthority....ng-new-zealand


When to apply

We recommend you wait until you are in New Zealand to apply for a firearms licence.

You must be in New Zealand to:

complete the firearms safety course
be interviewed
install secure storage.

You will also need to provide:

details of referees in New Zealand who know you well
the name of your New Zealand health practitioner.

As for the referee question it must be doable ? if there is a category , for 12 month + visa's .

So there appears to be no way around the bureaucracy.
Suggested steps:
- Join NZDA (attend HUNTS Course) and/or local (indoor/outdoor) rifle club to build relationships and credibility
- Hunt with a mate or club mate, under supervision of a licensed firearms owner
- Get a Licenced Firearms owner to buy and store your rifle.
- Network with NZ based SAFA community and find that person who grew up in your village, and knew your parents!
EASY!