NZ Gun licence: who's telling the truth?

**lance4k** · 03-11-2008, 03:11 PM

Do you need to do a mountain safety course to get a gun licence in NZ? It says you need to in this article:

http://www.odt.co.nz/7649/hunting-lifts-firearm-numbers

But on the NZ police website there is no mention of needing to do this course:

http://www.police.govt.nz/service/fi...fosheet05.html

**wratterus** · 03-11-2008, 03:17 PM

Don't believe you have to. I don't have my gun license, but I have several friends who do and there was never any mention of that course.

**Terry Porritt** · 03-11-2008, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by lance4k

Do you need to do a mountain safety course to get a gun licence in NZ? It says you need to in this article:

http://www.odt.co.nz/7649/hunting-lifts-firearm-numbers

But on the NZ police website there is no mention of needing to do this course:

http://www.police.govt.nz/service/fi...fosheet05.html

But there is indeed mention of the Firearms Safety Test test to be sat by all applicants:

"The Arms Code

The Arms Code is a firearms safety manual compiled by the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council and the New Zealand Police. You can download a PDF version of the Arms Code [36 page PDF, minus cover, 1236 KB]. It is also available free at all Police stations.

The Arms Code forms the basis of the Firearms Safety Test which must be sat by all firearms licence applicants."

{It is left as an exercise for you to find the page on the website

)

**lagbort** · 03-11-2008, 04:17 PM

Having done mine a couple of years back, and also having a father who does the interviews for these licences I can say that yes you do have to do a mountain safety council course.
I would almost call it a waste of time though you just sit through a video then do a short test that basically boils down to;

Q- you are lining up a shot and your friend walks infront of you do you:
A- Shoot him, its his fault for getting in the way
B- Not shoot him

etc.

I suppose if you had no idea that a firearm could actually hurt someone it may be an eye-opener, otherwise a pretty boring evening all round

**FoxyMX** · 03-11-2008, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by lance4k

Do you need to do a mountain safety course to get a gun licence in NZ?

Yes, you do but it is not really a "course" as such. Immediately prior to sitting your licence examination you have to watch a video on basic firearm safety instructions, firearm safety, etc run by the NZ Mountain Safety Council. You then sit a test on the contents of the Arms Code.

**plod** · 03-11-2008, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by lance4k

Do you need to do a mountain safety course to get a gun licence in NZ? It says you need to in this article:

http://www.odt.co.nz/7649/hunting-lifts-firearm-numbers

But on the NZ police website there is no mention of needing to do this course:

http://www.police.govt.nz/service/fi...fosheet05.html

Yes. Its easy. You cannot fail

**R2x1** · 03-11-2008, 10:14 PM

Roddy B could.

**joemac** · 03-11-2008, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by lagbort

I would almost call it a waste of time though you just sit through a video then do a short test that basically boils down to;

Q- you are lining up a shot and your friend walks infront of you do you:
A- Shoot him, its his fault for getting in the way
B- Not shoot him

etc.

I suppose if you had no idea that a firearm could actually hurt someone it may be an eye-opener, otherwise a pretty boring evening all round

I have been hunting and shooting for a long time, but only got my NZ gun licence a few years ago. The Mountain safety course I went to was excellent. There was no video, but a local gent who was passionate about
fire arm safety took a really informative and interesting course.