Before my question and for the benefit of overseas members who may read this, but are unfamiliar with NZ license system, I’ll give a quick summery of the NZ licensing system first. The situation is a bit fluid at the moment and there are some grey areas, but the basics are:
A-Cat License: Is the basic license and covers rim fire rifles (including semi auto’s with magazine capacity of no more than 15 rounds), shotguns (including semi auto’s with magazine capacity of no more than 7 rounds) centre fire rifles (including semi auto’s with magazine capacity of not more than 7 rounds, no flash hider, no pistol grip and no bayonet lug).
B-Cat endorsement: Is for pistol shooters and is subject to Pistol NZ membership, membership of an approved local pistol club and regular attendance (12 shoots per year).
C-Cat endorsement: This stands for ‘collectors’ (although I have heard it call ‘convenience’) and basically covers everything else that does not fit in any other category. This includes select fire assault rifles, machine pistols, light machine guns, mortars, anti air craft guns, grenade launchers etc.
D-Cat License: This is for people that trade in firearms for business purposes; gunshop owners, gunsmiths, etc.
E-Cat endorsement: Is for MSSA’s (this is a purely NZ term for licensing purposes and means Military Style Semi Automatic). As the name implies it covers basically semi automatic assault rifles in their original form with flash hiders, bayonet lugs, pistol grips, no restriction on magazine capacity, etc. Select fire (full auto) rifles must have this function permanently disabled. This category also is used for semi auto rim fire rifles and shotguns than do not comply with A-Cat specs, due to magazine capacity or other non complying feature.
F-Cat endorsement: Is for employees of a Dealer, who handle firearms as part of their employment.
The license is for the person, not the firearm and lasts 10 years. There is a fee for a B, C or E Cat endorsement and once it is attached to your A-Cat licence it lasts for the duration of the licence. B, C & E Cat firearms do have to be registered, but there is no fee.
More information can be found here: http://www.police.govt.nz/service/firearms/arms-code.pdf
A-Cat License: Is the basic license and covers rim fire rifles (including semi auto’s with magazine capacity of no more than 15 rounds), shotguns (including semi auto’s with magazine capacity of no more than 7 rounds) centre fire rifles (including semi auto’s with magazine capacity of not more than 7 rounds, no flash hider, no pistol grip and no bayonet lug).
B-Cat endorsement: Is for pistol shooters and is subject to Pistol NZ membership, membership of an approved local pistol club and regular attendance (12 shoots per year).
C-Cat endorsement: This stands for ‘collectors’ (although I have heard it call ‘convenience’) and basically covers everything else that does not fit in any other category. This includes select fire assault rifles, machine pistols, light machine guns, mortars, anti air craft guns, grenade launchers etc.
D-Cat License: This is for people that trade in firearms for business purposes; gunshop owners, gunsmiths, etc.
E-Cat endorsement: Is for MSSA’s (this is a purely NZ term for licensing purposes and means Military Style Semi Automatic). As the name implies it covers basically semi automatic assault rifles in their original form with flash hiders, bayonet lugs, pistol grips, no restriction on magazine capacity, etc. Select fire (full auto) rifles must have this function permanently disabled. This category also is used for semi auto rim fire rifles and shotguns than do not comply with A-Cat specs, due to magazine capacity or other non complying feature.
F-Cat endorsement: Is for employees of a Dealer, who handle firearms as part of their employment.
The license is for the person, not the firearm and lasts 10 years. There is a fee for a B, C or E Cat endorsement and once it is attached to your A-Cat licence it lasts for the duration of the licence. B, C & E Cat firearms do have to be registered, but there is no fee.
More information can be found here: http://www.police.govt.nz/service/firearms/arms-code.pdf