Looking at sitting your New Zealand Firearms Licence? Fantastic! This course will help you prepare for the theory and practical tests required for the application. This course focuses on the standard, A Category Firearms Licence – what you will need to own hunting firearms and most sporting firearms.
B (Pistols), C (Collectors) and P (Endorsed) Licenses are covered elsewhere. However, you are required to apply for your A before you can get endorsements anyhow.
About The Writer
Hi there. My name is kerry.
I am one of the Firearms Instructors for the MSC (Mountain Safety Council) who is the organisation responsible for coordinating the courses for the NZ Police. In addition, I have written a series of articles on the Seven Rules of Firearms Safety for Rod & Rifle Magazine, as well as running thebloke.co.nz and precisionshooter.co.nz – two websites designed to educate new and experienced hunters and shooters. GunSafe (where you are now) is my platform for consultation for workplaces and organisations on firearms safety and regulation, as well as the more formal training and education courses like the one you are reading about now.
This course will not just lay out the answers for you. That is not my intent, nor could it be, as I am directly involved with the process and that would be a massive, massive conflict of interest on my part. Sorry, you can’t buy a firearms licence through here.
Instead, this course will take you through step by step on the how of getting the application together, explain what some of the form questions mean and the information that the Police are wanting from you, and guide you on what to do before, during, and after the course that is part of the licencing process.
This is a study guide and a pile of extra information for anyone wanting to be a responsible and safe licenced firearms owner in New Zealand. Read it, understand it and the course and test will be a breeze.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this course take?
Dunno. Depends if you decide to sit down and do it all in one go, or space it out I guess. I am constantly adding in more content, with the intent to make this a great resource for anyone who has a firearms licence, not just those applying for the first time.
Do I need to do this course to get a licence?
Not at all. Make no mistake – this course is in no way required as part of your firearms licencing application.
Then why bother doing it?
Well. Some people like to be prepared. Some like a little extra guidance on the process and an explanation of some of the finer details. Even during the actual licencing course, we only have so long, can only teach so much – so this online supplemental information simple gives you more information and more training. A good way to prepare for the official course, and just be a better, more educated firearms owner overall. Take advantage of the knowledge I have amassed over many years of taking the licencing course and even longer studying and writing about firearms safety.
