1Gaming friend and their parent both held firearms licences with B and E Endorsements. This entitled them to possess pistols and military style semi-automatic firearms and indicated that they had already been subject to New Zealand Police vetting that was more extensive than that required for the standard firearms licence the individual was applying for.
Both referees considered the individual to be safe with firearms. Gaming friend said the individual was “well aware of safety and proper handling of firearms” and that he was a sensible, responsible person. Gaming friend’s parent stated that the individual was a “good, outstanding young man” and gave their opinion that the individual was “good and safe” with firearms.
A good outstanding young man.
A nice person.
Both referees said that they had shot with the individual and supported his application (see Part 4, chapters 2 and 4).
Been out with me – done some range shooting and instructed in care and safety with firearms.
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Gaming friend’s parent was asked “Do you know of any reason whatsoever as to why police should refuse to issue a firearms licence to the applicant?” They replied “No”. When asked “Why do you hold this view?”, the gaming friend’s parent’s response is recorded as “No reasons known” and “Fully supportive”.
Gaming friend’s response to the same set of questions is recorded as “No reasons known”.
Gaming friend was known to New Zealand Police and the New Zealand Customs Service due to their attempted importation of an offensive weapon and firearm parts without the necessary permits to import. This information was on their National Intelligence Application printout when the Licensing Clerk reviewed it. New Zealand Customs Service’s records note the following:
In May 2014, gaming friend tried to import a knuckleduster knife. Knuckledusters are considered offensive weapons and require a New Zealand Police permit to import them. The item was intercepted by New Zealand Customs Service at the border. New Zealand Customs Service officers contacted New Zealand Police who confirmed that gaming friend did not have the necessary permit. The knuckleduster knife was, therefore, seized.
In December 2015, gaming friend tried to import four firearm parts - one cheek riser for a Magpul CTR/MOE stock, one AK47 Nato US stock, one AR15 buttstock extension tube and one AKM4 stock adapter for a collapsible stock. The items were intercepted by New Zealand Customs Service at the border. As gaming friend did not have the required import permit, the items were seized.
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Following the December 2015 incident, the District Arms Officer in Waikato contacted gaming friend, gave them a verbal warning and told them that they would not receive the items.
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The National Intelligence Application printout for gaming friend’s parent showed they had four convictions:
refusing an officer’s request to undergo an evidential blood test on 14 July 1989;
producing a logbook33 that contained false particulars on 14 July 1989;
producing a logbook that omitted a material particular on 14 July 1989; and
driving with an excess proportion of alcohol in their breath on 15 March 1991.
During the vetting interview, gaming friend described the individual as a friend. They said that their initial contact with the individual, ten years earlier, had been through “video games etc” and that they had been in regular contact since. They noted the individual was an Australian, “widely travelled” and had recently come to New Zealand and would “probably settle here”.
Gaming friend’s parent also described the individual as a friend and
said they had known him for four years.
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