[Dave & Sandra]

Just thought I would let everyone know about a slight problem with our shipment which the shippers (Crown) didn't warn us about and didn't even mention when they e-mailed to confirm it had cleared customs.

Dave bought a dagger in Saudi years ago, purely for ornamental purposes, but it is a bit wicked. I've just had a letter delivered by courier to say that the dagger has been confiscated by Customs as we didn't have a 'Police consent to import' for it :oops: . Apparently we have a month to apply to the police and get a consent. Had to contact the Arms Officer at local police station. Feilding put me through to a guy in Palmerston North who said 'yes, this happens all the time'. Dave has to write a letter explaining his circumstances here, work, work permit etc. with a description of the dagger and the circumstances under which it was bought and that we would like to keep it. Then he has to make an appointment to see this guy and arrange the formalitites.

So for anybody else out there with any kind of weapon, even ornamental - get advice from your shippers first on how to apply for police consent. To be fair it wasn't mentioned when they came to do the quote and it would have been too late when they came to pack up. Although you would think they would know to check on anything you are sending that may need permits :(

[Diny]

Good bit of info this Sandra.

Did you have to list every item ... such as ornaments - or did they just come under a heading of 'general stuff'.

Reason I ask .... we have a rapier which belonged to some distant relly of mine and is from the Crimean War.

Do you think this needs to be listed or just packed away in the hopes that nobody will find it?

Diny

[Milliemoo]

errrrrrr don't know if this counts, but will we have have problems with Frodo's sgian dubh ?

Milliemoo ;)

[Diny]

Millie

If only I understood your posting :? :? :? :?

Diny

[Milliemoo]

Sorry love, should have made it a bit clearer.

Duncan has a kilt with all the trimmings, including a rather nice sgian dubh (the knife which gets stuck down his sock) which we wouldn't want to leave behind. I'm sure customs must have come across this before.

Milliemoo ;)

[Dave & Sandra]

Hi Milliemoo

I think you might have a problem - check it out with your shippers. It's still a knife and is classed as a weapon. Is that the Celtic spelling for it, I think I've come across it before as a skian dhu.

Hi Diny - I think your rapier might also be a problem. Our dagger was listed on the inventory by the packers, which I presume customs see a copy of, so I declared it on the MAF form. If it's not specified on the inventory then maybe you don't need to worry. But the MAF form that you have to complete for customs clearance does ask you to specify if there is anything of that nature in the shipment. I wouldn't like to hazard a guess at what would happen if you didn't declare something and MAF did a spot check of the shipment :? All of our ornaments were just listed as 'ornaments', there were too many to list separately and the MAF form asks you what type of ornaments you have and what they are made of :eek I just put various - glass, wood, china, silver etc.

Sounds like we're a blood-thirsty lot doesn't it - importing all these WMD's :laugh

Sandra

[Diny]

Sandra

I think I shall declare it ... better safe than sorry. Might as well turn over a new leaf and start abiding by the rules ..... new country ... new me ...yeah right.

Millie

I'm with Sandra on the spelling of Skean Dhu, no wonder I didn't have a clue what you were on about :laugh

Diny

[Milliemoo]

boo hiss ........ oh well so long as they know about it, if it means filling out more forms then sobeit.

BTW, there are lots of spelling variations of 'Sgian Dubh' but in Gaelic it translates as 'sgian' = dagger & 'dubh' = black ie: black dagger. It doesn't matter how you spell it though, it's always pronounced as "skeen doo". I guess people spelt it differently because they didn't know how to pronounce it in Gaelic.

McMilliemoo ;)

[Brit Guy]

Just like to add my two-pence worth… I can’t understand why a dagger should be confiscated, and certainly they shouldn’t confiscate a Sgian Dubh (Scottish dress knife). What’s the difference between these and any of the knives in the kitchen draw? In fact, some of the ‘butchers’ type kitchen knives would be far more ‘formidable’ if used as a weapon… the only real difference is in the name! Well, that and the fact that the Sgian Dubh would be a little more ornamental, and costly! I know flick knives are prohibited, but even that is a far outdated law. The mere mention of a “flick knife” conjures up images of Marlon Brando in “The Wild One” and other such 50’s era films, however, statistics show that most ‘knife’ related incidents are carried out using a kitchen knife, and most football hooligan ‘slash’ type injuries are done with a workman’s ‘Stanley’ knife.
A knife is just a tool that we use to do a job, whether it is peeling spuds or cutting meat. Society seems to put too much emphasis on inanimate objects becoming potential weapons, knives are just knives no matter what ‘name’ we give them. Whilst the powers that be still allow us to cut our own bread, fillet our own fish and carve our own meat, there will be a few amongst us who will use these ‘tools’ to intentionally harm themselves or others… that’s life! :?
Sorry if I sound like I’m on a soap-box but it is a subject close to my heart. I have an interest in knife making as a hobby. There are a few custom knife makers in NZ, and their work is fantastic, with pieces being commissioned by customers all over the world. On a personal note… I hope the customs folk are not over zealous when they inspect my ‘lot’, as I intend to take lots of knives (I will call them kitchen knives if it makes them happy)! Oh… and then there’s my firearm collection!! :uhoh

[Brit Guy]

Diny

The Rapier you mention shouldnt be an issue (check anyway just to be sure), but swords and stuff are not prohibited in NZ, so I dont see why they should bother. but if they do, you should insist that it is of special sentimental value as I believe it makes a difference. Get this... you can take sporting firearms (rifles and shotguns) in the container no problem, as long as you declare them to customs (they then give you the required paperwork), so whats a little ol' sword? :laugh

[Diny]

Thanks for that Brit Guy .... I'd be well cheesed off if it got confiscated.

It's got abit of blood thirsty sentimental value to me.

Diny

[jo b]

What about kitchen knives extremely sharp chopping ones.

They are weapon do you think we will need clearance on these too :eek

jo

[Brit Guy]

OOOOhhhh, I bet you will, or maybe you could blunt the edge and promise the nice customs man that you won't sharpen it when you get there... while you're at it, just make a check that you dont have any pencils that have been oversharpened... you could stab someone with those don't you know! (just kiddin') But lets be real Jo.. do you think that you have to be a qualified Chef to be 'in possesion of kitchen knives in New Zealand?? :roll:

[Timbo]

Interesting points made there Brit guy. As you say, a knife is a knife really. A friend of ours went to NZ recently and he took his competition archery gear along for the ride. This included a very powerfull Bow and a couple of dozen very sharp arrows. No problemo..he was even allowed to set up temporary targets and do a bit of practice on a public beach. Apparently nobody raised an eyebrow.

[Brit Guy]

Just shows you how ridiculous the ‘letter of the law’ can be sometimes… I was once cautioned (not officially) about a lock-knife that I had with me whilst doing my job. For those who don’t know, a lock knife just means that it is a knife with a fold out blade that locks in the open position until a release catch is pressed, allowing the blade to be folded back into the handle. This is a safety mechanism, which prevents the blade folding onto your fingers when using it. However, there are strict guidelines about the length of the blade and possession etc. The friendly ‘Copper’ (someone I know) told me that I could be in trouble for having ‘the knife’. The funny part … well… hilarious more like, is that I was in my work clothes at the time, and I was using it ‘on-the-job (Electrician)’. I told him to take a look in my van… I pointed out all manner of tools, some which would be considered extremely ‘offensive weapons’ if you took them out with you when you pop down the pub! Examples being, razor sharp saws, axe, Stanley knives, hammers, dozens of sharp-pointy-nasty things etc, to which he said “well, they are okay because it’s not against the law to possess them…”
It is this attitude that angers me so much… lets look at it another way… if a number of homicides were committed knitting needles, it is quite possible that the government would ban, or more likely ‘restrict’ or licence the use thereof. Poor old Granny!!

Timbo… Wow, now that is the opposite to the extreme! There is a vast difference I guess, as the archery on-the-beach would be a public safety issue (stay arrows etc), whereas, a knife won’t jump out of your hand and stab someone without at least a little help. I must say however, that the thought of living somewhere, where there is ROOM enough to even consider setting up to shoot arrows… well, that’s one of my reasons for moving to NZ… SPACE!! Hey, just a thought… imagine doing the same on the beach at Skegness or Blackpool!!.. Heck, you could shoot a dozen arrows into the air and not hit sand once!. Hell of a way to clear yourself a spot though huh? :laugh

[Timbo]

I am a little concerned about an electrician who carrys an axe in the van. Hmmm! :?

[Brit Guy]

...Had a couple of bad paying customers

http://community.the-underdogs.org/smiley/armed/dark2.gif

The truth... this sparky is also a plumber, carpenter, builder etc!!

[Timbo]

:laugh I prefer your first reason. I know what you mean though, one has to be adaptable these days.

[blue]

I have 2 replica swords Claymore sword and Mcload sword do you think they will be a problem? Got the shipper coming around on wed so will ask.

[Brit Guy]

Nahhhhh... but Claymore mines could be!! :laugh

[wayne]

we have a couple of target bows/ hunting bows with alluminium and carbon fibre arrows,these are just as deadly as a rifle ,but when I asked our shipper about them he said no problem as they will be classified as sporting equipment,
when i was in NZ last year there were far more weapons in the shops than you see here ,Hunting any form of wildlife is a major sport in NZ they even have Possum hunts to raise cash for school funds

[Bubbles]

I am a scuba diver and have a "mother" of a knife. Will they class that as sporting equipment ?

[Dave & Sandra]

Just to let you know that we have now had a letter from the police authorising the importation of the knife. Don't know what we do now. I 'spose I'll call Crown and ask them if they can handle it for us.

[Dave & Sandra]

Latest update.

We had to send the Approval for Application to Import Dagger that we got from the police to the customs people in Wellington and they have delivered the dagger to us today at home. What a service :yes I thought we would have to go to Wellington to collect it.

[Moorf]

Wow, that's service!!

What about taking back replica swords to the UK in a suitcase? Have seen some lovely items that I know my brother would like.. mainly Japanese..

[RoadRunner]

Has anyone applied for permission to bring in a pistol? Is MAF likely to approve such a request?

Just wondering if we should sell ours before moving...

RoadRunner

[cloudboy99]

Mine's going to my dad. Seeing as how the police in NZ do NOT carry firearms as part of their routine job, their gun laws are a bit more strict than the 2nd ammendment (US right to bear arms). If it was an antique pistol I'd say ask about it, but if it does not have sentimental value, I'd sell it prior to moving.

[StevieD]

Everyone knows the law is an ASS! I can just see it now - Killer granny knits cardigan for prison guard with offensive knitting needles....

Ehm.. Mr. Tarantino, a word please :)

[Jo and Andy]

Reworking this thread, as Andy is being given an ornamental samurai sword as a gift.

Talking to the shippers tomorrow, but how do I go about getting police permission from the UK.

Thanks all.

[T-R3xx]

I would be interested in hearing from anyone who brought firearms over - what they brought, and what they went through.

Thanks.

[Avalon]

Guns,

We were told that you have to have a licence to own guns in NZ. So if you bring a gun in, then customs will want to see the licnece before they release it. I beleive its fairly easy to get one from the police - OR you can get someone already here who has a licence to accept the guns for you. One problem may be that you need to be legally entiltled to possess a firearm in the UK before you can Export it!

Bladed weopans - we bought in quite a few of them! We have re-inactment swords which are blunted, antique swords which are not, and a motley collection of daggers, either for eating with or antique ones which were probably made to kill people with! We also have a longbow and arrows, a pike and ax (blunted) and a serious collection of water pistols :raebanana ! We were warned by the shippers that we should check with customs BEFORE sending them. So we took the approach of sending emails to customs, and then when we were told it was OK, keeping a copy. We gave copies to the shippers as well.

Everything came through OK. I always thought with things that there may be a question mark over - declare it and ask the questions. They seem to be looking for hidden stuff (or what they perceive to be hidden). Tell 'em its there and they dont seem to bat an eyelid.

HTH

[Simon & Emily]

As this has been bumped to the top, I'd just like to know if there is any further info on the diving knive? Has anyone had problems bringing these in? As others have said, these can be seen as quite tame compared to some other tools etc that often come over, but seem to attract the most interest.

Diny - did you get your sword in? Hope so :)

Luckily we've already sold all our guns - it just seemd the easiest option - and the only martial arts swords we have are wooden, so they can't complain too much about them :D

I guess if you just move house within the same country you simply pack everything up and do what you want with it. It's only when you have customs experts going over it all that things that seem normal to you raise eyebrows to other people. :nice1

Emily