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Contact:  shane_cossar@hotmail.com

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This is an A-Category firearm but still needed a Permit to Import, End User Certificate, and Export Permit (from the UK).

LAW

NZ Firearms Law  
There are currently about 222,300 licenced firearms owners in New Zealand.  My first New Zealand firearms licence was a little red book and I recall that it dutifully recorded that I had a Gamo .177 airgun.  This was the so-called lifetime firearms licence where each firearm needed to be registered. 
Rather than having every firearm registered the 1983 Arms Act introduced a Life time licence, and the 10 year licence was introduced under the 1992 Arms Amendment Act. There are three main pieces of legislation covering firearms – the Arms Act 1983, the Arms Amendment Act 1992 and the Arms Regulations 1992.  The latter laws being a response to the Aromoana massacre. 
The basic firearms licence is known as an ‘A’ category permitting the ownership of ‘sporting configuration’ shotguns and rifles.  This excludes any automatic loader with; pistol grips, magazines with a capacity of more than 7 rounds, flash suppressors, or bayonet lugs. A firearms licence can be endorsed for a variety of other types and purposes. 
The ‘B’ category endorsement covers pistols.  Pistol ownership requires additional security for storage, membership of a club, with a quantity of mandated shoots per year, and pistols are only permitted to be used at approved pistol ranges.  The ‘C’ category endorsement is for collectors and a ‘D’ category endorsement is for dealers.  The ‘E’ category endorsement is for military style semi automatic firearms (MSSA) – basically covering most of the exclusions for an ‘A’ category licence.
The Arms Code is a firearms safety manual based on those laws and provides plain English explanations for use and obligations of the various types of firearms.

Prior to granting a firearms licence the Police will conduct reference checks, hold an interview, and also review the firearms storage and security measures.  Additional requirements apply for all endorsed licences.  A distinction of firearms ownership in New Zealand is that the legal basis is it is a privilege, and not a right, unlike in America.  Consequently a firearms licence can be revoked or expire.  

Export from USA  
You should not expect that you can simply go and order anything you like, or have seen in a magazine.  The Export Administration Regulations (EAR) regulate the export and re-export of commercial items from the USA, and are implemented and enforced by the Bureau of Industry and Security, a branch of the United States Department of Commerce.  Items that have both commercial and military applications (dual use) are subject to the EAR and may require an export licence. 

Product categories under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce include: Daytime Rifle Scopes; Night Vision Rifle Scopes Generation 1; Holographic, Reflex and Red-dot Sights; and Laser Sights.  Fortunately, New Zealand does not have restrictions for the Firearms Convention or Crime Control regulations and such products can generally be legally exported to NZ without additional paperwork, such as End User Certificates.

The United States Department of State in accordance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) per Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 120-130 regulate the export of Generation 2 (and higher) night vision equipment and some military daytime rifle scopes.  In short these are only available to government departments.  Consequently, while Generation 1 devices are available, this system only has day optics.

Importing Firearms to NZ  
The New Zealand Police maintain a register of all makes and models of firearms that are approved for import and use in New Zealand.  As a licenced firearm owner it is possible to import a firearm or parts directly, rather than through a gunshop, in which case a Permit to Import must be obtained from the Police prior to importing or bringing the firearm in.  In some cases visitors to New Zealand may also, depending upon firearm type, bring firearms with them and be issued a ‘V’isitors licence.  To avoid confiscation Pistols, MSSAs and restricted weapons require an advance authorisation for import.
In this case Wills Fishing and Firearms is the New Zealand distributor for Accuracy International and they did all the paperwork for the importation of the rifle.

End-User Certificate  
As Accuracy International is a military firearm the British government also required an End-User Certificate EUC, which was also arranged by Wills Fishing and Firearms   An EUC is used to restrict the sale of goods to embargoed states and certifies that the buyer is the final recipient and the goods will not be transferred to another party.

Importing other Items to NZ  
Not everything that can be purchased oversea can be legally imported to New Zealand.  Some militaria, such as bayonets are prohibited for import. 
Apart from the rifle, all other components of this system, including the riflescope, are not classified as firearms parts and did not require a Permit to Import.  None of the parts were on the Customs Department list of restricted or prohibited items.

Re-Export from New Zealand  
Anyone thinking of making some easy money buying shooting equipment from the USA and flogging it off again in another country should think again.  Diversion of products exported from the USA otherwise in compliance of the EAR is prohibited.  Additionally any unauthorised re-export of such products is also prohibited.  If such products are being re-exported proper authorisation must be obtained from The US Department of Commerce.
Both the Police and Customs Department also have regulations that must be met for the export of firearms.

Disclaimer:  Shooting is potentially dangerous and damaged equipment can be expensive to fix.  You should confirm all changes to be made to your rifle system and shooting practices with your local gunsmith or gunshop owner.