Thread: PSA: Unnecessary Bureaucracy with Import Permits

@Fatberg,
Based on my experience you may not need to do anything with the Customs copy.
Obviously, copy your Permit to your supplier and insist they put a copy inside the package with your trigger. Upon arrival in NZ, if Customs bother to inspect, the copy contained in the package will likely suffice and the trigger should be sent on to you. An item exceeding NZD $1000.00 may attract a GST invoice to be paid befor goods release and you may be asked to supply a copy of your Import Permit with the payment ( I have been asked ). If you personally collect the item from the likes of NZ Post they may want to see your Import Permit ( think I was asked once ).
Several times I have had low value parcels arrive containing a copy of my Import Permit and goods came through without any request to see anything else.
I think the important thing is insisting your supplier puts a copy in the package. If NZ Customs inspected and found no Permit for item/s that should have one I imagine it gets handed to NZ Police and a lengthy delay follows before it's all sorted.

Where the Customs copy probably come into play is the situation where you take your own firearm temporarily from NZ for an overseas trip and return later with the same firearm. The exact same Import Permit is issued for this scenario. Upon return to NZ the Police inspect the rifle and( mostly ) make a copy of the Import Permit. Then often they walk you over to the NZ Customs counter, confirm to Customs they have inspected and Customs then retains the Customs copy of the Permit.

An important thing to remember is when your item has arrived within 30 days you need to inform either FSA or NZ Police ( can't remember which ) that you have received the item relating to the Permit. I once had an Import Permit for a rifle for an overseas hunt that was postponed due to Covid. The Import Permit lapsed and I forgot about it. NZ Police phoned asking what happened ad I was asked to email with my reason for the lapse. So, they do follow up. Good lesson.