Firearms licence backlog as duck hunt season nears
Police say they regret that some hunters may be in a position of not having a firearms licence when the duck shooting season starts next month, as the department continues to process a backlog of applications and renewals.
Data supplied by the police show that as of April 15 there were about 8869 applications in the pipeline, 5629 of which were new, and 3240 renewals.
The average time from application to completion was 322 days for a new application, and 222 days for a renewal.
Mike McIlraith, the officer in charge of arms safety and control acting superintendent, said all firearms licence applicants must be interviewed, their safe storage checked, and their referees interviewed.
‘‘In addition to this, other inquiries or interviews will be required for some applications to enable police to determine the applicants’ fit and proper status to hold a firearms licence,’’ McIlraith said.
First-time applicants also have to sit theory tests and go through practical training.
‘‘Police have been working hard to modernise our regulation of the Arms Act and ensure that only people who are fit and proper are able to access, possess, and use firearms,’’ McIlraith said.
‘‘This has meant new systems and forms, new training for our staff, and more quality assurance processes. This, coupled with the impacts of Covid and demand, has led to delays in our licensing processing.
‘‘Duck season commences in the first weekend of May and police are working hard to clear as many renewal applications as possible before this time.
‘‘We regret that some people may be in a position of not having a current licence when the season starts. But they will still be able to take part in duck shooting, if accompanied by and under the immediate supervision of a current licence holder.’’
Existing licence holders should check the expiry date on their licence and apply four months before it expired, he said.
Of the renewals that were yet to be processed, about 40 per cent were from people who applied for renewal on the expiry date or less than 31 days before their licence expired.
That did not allow police enough time to process the application ahead of the licence expiry, McIlraith said.
Fish & Game South Island senior communications adviser Richard Cosgrove said the organisation was concerned about the number of firearms licence holders affected by the delay in the processing of licences.
Fish & Game had not been able to quantify the number of game bird hunters who would be affected, but it was certain that the relicensing delay would affect some hunters, he said.
Hunters are required to show a current licence when purchasing ammunition, Cosgrove said.