18Issue of permit to import firearms, etc

1. A member of the Police to whom an application is made for the issue of a permit to import any item described in section 16(1)(a) to (g) may require the applicant to produce for examination and testing samples of any item of the kind referred to in the application that the member of the Police considers necessary.

2. A member of the Police, if satisfied of the matters in subsection (3), must grant an application for the issue of a permit to import any of the following items:

3. a non-prohibited firearm:
4. a blank-firing gun:
5. any part of an item described in paragraph (a) or (b):
6. any non-prohibited ammunition.

7. The matters referred to in subsection (2) are that—

8. the applicant is lawfully able to possess the item; and
9. one of the following applies:
   1. the applicant has complied with any previous requirement to provide a sample of the item for examination and testing and the sample was approved by a member of the Police:
   2. a sample of the item is not required to be produced for examination and testing:
   3. if the application is made for the issue of a permit to import a sample of an item, the applicant will—
      1. import no more than 1 sample; and
      2. comply with the requirements in section 18B.

10. The Commissioner may grant an application for the issue of a permit to import any of the following items:

11. a prohibited firearm:
12. a prohibited magazine:
13. a prohibited part:
14. a pistol:
15. a restricted airgun:
16. a restricted weapon:
17. any part of a pistol or restricted weapon:
18. any prohibited ammunition that is authorised or permitted expressly by or pursuant to this Act to be possessed.

19. The Commissioner may issue a permit under subsection (4) in respect of an item only if—

20. the Commissioner is satisfied that there are special reasons why the item should be allowed in New Zealand; and
21. in the case of an application for the issue of a permit under subsection (4)(a), (b), (d), or (f), the application is made by—
    1. the holder of a dealer’s licence that bears an endorsement made under section 30 or 30B permitting the dealer to possess the item; or
    2. the holder of a firearms licence that bears an endorsement made under section 30 or 30B permitting the person to possess the item; and
22. in the case of an application for the issue of a permit under subsection (4)(h), the applicant—
    1. is a person permitted by regulations made under this Act to possess prohibited ammunition; and
    2. is the holder of a firearms licence.

23. If an application for the issue of a permit is made under subsection (4)(c) in relation to a prohibited part that may be used by a licence holder on or with a non-prohibited firearm, the Commissioner—

24. must be satisfied that the part will only be used by the licence holder with or on a non-prohibited firearm; and
25. may impose conditions on the permit that enables a member of the Police to verify the use of the part.

26. A permit issued under this section is personal to the person to whom it is issued and may not be transferred to any other person.

27. A permit may in no case be issued under this section in respect of an anti-personnel mine or cluster munition.