Thread: Firearms licence waiting times

Originally Posted by BobGibson

I applied in Oct 2016 for a Dec 25th 2016 expired licence. Got my renewed FAL 5 days ago.
So thats 7 months

The delays are becoming ridiculous. There is a case to be made to privatise this process.

Just as an aside it took me 13 days from electronic submission to paperwork in hand for an import permit. Clearly some in the bureaucracy are more efficient than others.

Another proof that the " poor" police are under resourced and would struggle even more with the burden of an eventual register to maintain?

Some things that help speed up the process are Referees that are easily contacted. In some cases it takes weeks just to contact the 3 for interviews, if you can have then in the same area you live otherwise the file is sent all over the country which takes time. Also if you are contacted by an officer do your best to make yourself available for the time they ask to do the interview. They may have a large area to cover and your particular spot may only be visited every couple of weeks. Have your security up to scratch so the Officer doesn't have to come back when next in the area.

Did my P endorsement drivers licence. 10 - 12 weeks to process and remember everything on that is done at the counter.

My firearms L renewal last year took about 7-8 weeks from submitting form to turning up in mail. I renewed my drivers L on a Friday afternoon and had that card in the mail Monday morning.... Rural delivery.

Originally Posted by Towely

My firearms L renewal last year took about 7-8 weeks from submitting form to turning up in mail. I renewed my drivers L on a Friday afternoon and had that card in the mail Monday morning.... Rural delivery.

The nz police need to get on the same level as the NZTA!!

Originally Posted by TheJanitar

The nz police need to get on the same level as the NZTA!!

There's a substantial difference between renewing a driver's licence and renewing a firearms licence.

One of the issues I was warned about was the printing process backlog. The cops were getting the approvals side all doen but the printing was done in wellington and the place that does the printing was closed after the november quakes. They have apparently started to catch up no but this was the reason given for some of the delays. It probably did not help they were running behind at the time the quakes hit either...

Originally Posted by 10-Ring

There's a substantial difference between renewing a driver's licence and renewing a firearms licence.

There's also a substantial difference between the efficiency of the NZTA system and the nz police licensing department

On a serious note, I'm well aware of that yes. But I do think there are steps they can/should take to reduce the waiting time judging from the stories ive heard..

Originally Posted by TheChosenOne

This is probably a dick move, but someone had suggested me to fill out dissatisfaction form online on the time its taking to print licence (I filled it after waiting 3 months and needed it for an auction on TradeMe) and the licence came within 42 hours after I filled the form out. Some other members also mentioned filling that form out will most likely get your licence in mail within 1 or 2 days, but kind of a dick move since your licence gets bumped to the top of the list over everyone else just cause we complained.

Is that a known fact? Might contemplate doing the same in about 3-4weeks if I spot something ideal on trademe or on the forums.

The arms officer I handed the paperwork to said I should expect to wait 2 months. 8 weeks or so.

It helps if you weren't silly like me and hand the paperwork into the wrong police station as you only had a lunch break to use when the arms officer is actually working. I was meant to hand it in to the inner city branch. But I was all the way in takanini.

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Applied for my renewal last week. The vetting guy came to see me today at my office and then shot round a talked to the Mrs and check the security. Told me there would be a wait for the card, so we will see. He did say if I needed to I can contact them to have them confirm I do hold a licence before the new one arrives.

Just received mine this morning. Maybe they thought I should get it in time for duck opening day ? :-)
Did paperwork early February , so it is not too bad.

I did my paperwork in late Jan, had interview first week of Feb, received new license mid March.

The email address to check progress of your license renewal is project.firearms@police.govt.nz
They replied to me in 24 hours. My renewal took 2 months start to finish.