You’d be correct in assuming it doesn’t matter which port it comes in, ABF still have the last say regardless.
All imports come in via Brisbane if the are containers or less-than containers.
However there is a imaginary “federal” boundary that passes through border force before it reaches state jurisdiction.
Current understanding is imports will be plausible with a load of extra hoops to jump through but those hoops are right now a massive stonewall.
The safety test- which doesn’t apply to gel blasters needs to be clarified and passed with home affairs. Still no word on how that can happen but likely gel blasters will need a seperate test as real firearm safety test does not apply.
And the database. Models need to be added to the database of home affairs to be able to apply. Last I heard that still has not happened despite many submitting requests.
Given the backlash on the laws from the states, and the royal commission outcomes so far it should be obvious that these laws are an oversight and over reach, but whether anything can or will happen soon on that front is well… slim chances. Being soft on firearms is political suicide in this nanny state shit.
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But I thought bringing in tougher laws would prevent criminals form doing crime, cause that makes the side affect of fucking literally everyone’s else over worth it.
This is sarcasm if it wasn’t obvious
How are the sporting stores in NZ nowadays, @RokSolid .?.?
Last time i was there ( years ago, before the mosque shooting), you’d walk into a large chain outdoors/ sporting store…
and they’d have a big section of real steel firearms on wall display ( Locked up, of course).
About 30-40 models on display, from air rifles to big boom sticks.
That still the case.?.?
Bit of a difference in govt attitude, 3 flying hrs can make…
NZ have pretty sensible laws, and a relatively safe and active firearms community.
Yes those sporting/hunting/fishing stores still exist. And the barriers to entry are a bit easier than here… and airsoft is a thing anyone over 18 can get into.
Yes… still considering it for the distant future 
TBH I would rather our home country just treat us like adults!
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How can they when the ones in charge act like children… 
I’m not sure children is the best way to describe them but I won’t elaborate on what the correct terminology should be 
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It was the nicest way I could put it lets just say that.
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Some even better news for New Zealand shooters.
"New Zealand’s Budget 2026 allocates NZ$44.9 million to implement reforms under the new Arms Act, including the creation of Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand, an independent firearms regulator. "
So basically from what I can tell the Police are having the regulatory aspect taken off them however they will still undertake responding to armed incidence and threats to public safety where firearms are involved as usual but the licensing, vetting and adminastration will now go to an Independant regulator under the Dept of Justice instead of the NZ Police. Ear marked for sometime in 2026 I beleave.
This is positive news as having been an instructor, range officer, club captain and safety officer for various clubs and firearm/shooting organizations in NZ in the past the frustration with dealing with some within the Police on licensing matters was equivalent to knocking ones head into a concrete wall for 30mins or more, the resulting headache would be pretty much the same. A tangled web or old laws that drastically needed to be looked at and an attitude of “you don’t need guns, only we are qualified to have guns” was pretty much the status quo.
Hopefully this new regulator can rebuild the trust lost and feeling of dismay that many of NZs licensed firearms holders now have towards the current administrator within the NZ Police.
And yes in NZ you can play the game of airsoft and own an airsoft rifle no matter if it looks tactical and black and shoots in semi or full auto. As in NZ airguns are classified not on how they look (oh that’s scarry ban it) but on wether of not that are dangerous to life or just a fun sporting/recreational tool. The high power PCP airguns requiring a firearms license but low powered including lead pellet firing, co2/gas/springers powered airguns being generally allowed. I forget the FPE limit but when I left it was approx 40 something FPE requiring a firearms license.
So a little bit of hope and common sense is still left across the Tasman.
But you guys do know the initiation process for going across to NZ involves some sheep and gumboots don’t ya? Well those winters over there are much colder than here.
Cheers.
NZ definitely have a very sensible approach to firearms and toys. And the culture of education of safe use is very good.
Apart from getting in the wool initiation process, it isn’t a smart economical choice for an Aussie to move there. While on average, things cost similar each way considering the exchange rate benefit for us and the inflated prices over there, wages, super and overall income is a bit lower for the average kiwi than the average Aussie. There is a good reason many move here and it is pure economics and ease of immigration across the ditch for them. The difference in super benefits alone sees the average working kiwi disadvantaged pretty heavily.
They are suffering “brain drain” and skill shortages due to this so skilled employment is easy to find there but an Aussie will be effectively worse off economically in almost every factor.
As with everything do your own research and find what fits you best before making the choice, my wife and I are considering it as a something closer to retirement age thing, so we have a good few years before we need to put them gumboots on and the “woolly jumper” 
Yep…dad had a unit in Nelson.
Retirement holiday home…he couldn’t’ handle hot summers, so went there for 4 months of the year.
Beautiful country with stunning scenery…but lower wages and higher cost of living.
As always, some people have successful businesses over there, and do well…but the average person struggles a bit harder over there.
I’ve always wanted an old holiday home over there…so much to see and do, and the airsoft is a bonus. Houses a bit out of town are a bit cheaper.
Eventually, ill look into short term rentals for an investment property…
You could have the situation of offering it for short term holiday rentals….while keeping one bedroom locked and unavailable , for storing airsoft stuff…
Earns some income, and you have use of it when you want.
I’ve done holiday rental stays before, and you are literally renting someone’s home while they vacate it for the holiday period…
Well you haven’t been here then have you. Moari shearers melt when it hits 40. I said it’s only warm ya soft cock they struggle but damn they do a good job. Smoke too many cones, you better lay off that shit. Strickly verbotten in the workplace. OH&S insurance reasons of course.
But damn they can shear. One is retiring he’s the best I’ve ever worked with, younger than me. Doesn’t muck around drugs or alcohol. Same first name as me so that was funny. He got in to some x bred lambs one day, I couldn’t step away as I was getting all the wool away. He asked me though as we started, am I good to go, I said yep lets rock. 1 lamb in one minute perfect clean no cuts.
I have a saying. There’s the best, then there is the rest. I’ve worked with some bad shearers in the past. It goes both ways, you work together as a team to get the job done. I have good work ethic from my younger trade days so that transferred over no problems. I learned heaps.
My shearing contractor he gets his regular Kiwis over from NZ to do the run within 100klms of me and some bits interstate. I can’t speak highly enough of him and his wife. Very prominent big in the industry. The boss I’ll call him bit older than me but not much, born NZ and not Moari. He does not do things in halves. When he was younger he’d shear 250 in 2hrs. Top fellow, so easy to organise with. I get bit disgusted some times million dollar farmer are dick heads some times. Phone call at 4am ah stand down don’t go there. The idiot didn’t round his sheep up , there is not sheep for cooee nothing to do. Had to go the next day. Farmer forgot what day it was haha that didn’t go down well at all
I said to the boss how many we up to this week, for the year and 4 months left just clicked over 240,000. Those numbers are correct. 
Not mine but some of mine and me working with him over my district
Still run by the code, no beer no shear. Just 2 at end of day so stay under the limit. House rules
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Have to agree with everything you have said. The pay and conditions, Super, the Brain drain is all 100% correct. Yes things are harder over there financially, its one of the reasons I came here. That and my Parents and Brother and his family moved over between 15 and 20yrs ago. I held out and stayed but lived week to week back in NZ. I finally saw sence and came over in 2019.
I came with $30,000 in debt and within a few years had paid that off and saved $75,000. Sadly lost my job during Covid and then injured and spent a year out of work recovering and paying rent for a year with no income drained the accs, but I’m still in the positive $$ wise and working again.
Applying for my Citizenship and am happy to be paying my tax here as this country has done more for me and my family than my own country has. I do still luv NZ but its pay and conditions for my area of work is 40% less in NZ plus living costs are higher than here (Brisbane). This country pays me well for hard work and I intend to give back to it how I can plus all my family members have done well here in there jobs and everyday life and health. I miss the shooting back home but considering how better things are here its not worth leaving here just to shoot with a little bit more freedom. Australia has been good to me, I want to stay here, pay my taxes here, spend my money here and gain Citizenship and give back to it in any way positively I can.
Plus I enjoy these Gel Blasters and maybe can get a few more people into the sport as the more people involved the louder we can be in showing this is a safe and fun sport for all.
Cheers.
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Nelson is a top spot. South Island generally is a winning situation in terms of beauty and fun things to do. Im sure NZ would love more Aussie investment in it. Considering NZ put all its eggs into 2 baskets, Milk and Tourism and during Covid and even until now the Tourism had taken a bit of a hit any type of investment would be very welcome I’m sure.
Cheers.
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The beaches there are absolutely gorgeous.
I remember seeing a swimmer, swimming near the pier…and. A pod of orcas nearby .
Breathtaking…
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I struggled when I first came over with the heat. Considering a South Queensland Winter is like a nice summer where I was from I got a bit of a wake up call when labouring when I first came over in the summer. But it trimmed me down and toned me up. I think I’m only aclimitising now and ive been 7yrs here now.
Yep some of the Maori shearing lads can produce high numbers, they are generally pretty fit, strong and ready to get in to it. They love driving and do well here. A few of my old railway mates came over to drive trains and they love it. The money is great compared to NZ and when they told me the length of the wagons they pull and the horsepower produced from the locos here I was shocked. Flying into Rocky for my first time we followed the railway line from south into Rocky, I could not believe my eyes seeing a coal train atleast 1.25km long or more snaking its way south. It was an impressive sight.
I got to also say, I like the beer here to. Especially James Boag. Its become my No1. Yes its from Tassie and not QLD but what a beer.
Cheers.
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Yeah they get them down there quite a bit. Well pretty well all over. Seen them in Auckland s Inner Waitemata harbour, a pod of 7 chasing stingway to the shallows for a bit of a feed.
Awesome sight indeed.
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Yea it’s all good. Us farmers would be buggered without NZ shearers coming out here to shear our sheep. I pay a above award as they do such a good job. Contract rate, always look after them if something not quite right.
It’s a really hard job, I have some back issues so I can’t shear but I can woolclass and press, shed hand no worries.
The weather, it’s a bit different depending where you go. When it was really hot early this year hit state record, the shearing team start at 4am in the morning then get 3 runs in by about 11am when it was creeping over 40c. Not good for shearers and shed staff, not good for the sheep either. Still getting the job done no worries. Just got to manage things and try do it right. Best you can.
Good fun too have a bit of a joke around and a laugh. Top guys and girls. Yes there’s been a few female shearers that have cleaned a few of the guys up. Funny, c’mon mate you got beat by a girl
I was having a joke as they are joking all the time, they are so funny. Keeps the spirits up in the shed. They work hard and worth every penny Hope I didn’t come across the wrong way. Cheers
Interesting about the trains, I’m a bit of a fan.
Have you seen the RIO Tinto remote control trains. Pretty cool.
Absolutely insane. The size of them, the power, the engineering, the tonnage, its mind blowing. I do prefer manned machines as a driver can feel the revs, the vibrations, the sounds, even smells can alert a driver to a potential fault but I’m sure the sensor equipment in those remotes would be pretty good. I remember hassling a supervisor about his toy train set but now see he could control a train from the office and get his work and play in all together in one job lol. Getting paid to remote control a 2km long train, he would love it. I do hope Aussie dosent turn its back on mining like NZ did. Mining and the minerals and Ores that Australia produce for the world have helped to keep conditions and pay at a good level and the income produced does indeed help across the board and into many other sectors. I hope Australia does not go the way of NZ and try to impress the UN and those types at the detriment to its standard of living and income. This is a great country with resources the rest of the world needs, time to stop giving it away cheap to some and reap more of the rewards.
The trains are awesome, thanks for the video link.
Cheers.
Great Grandmother was a Maori woman, married a Scottish fellow, things went south and she exiled to Australia in the early 1900’s whilst still young.
We apparently still have family “land” in NZ according to my Mum, although I’m not sure of the details, something to do with Tribal land?
Mum, Dad and my sister have been there a few times, but I’ve never gone myself.
Absolutely loved this movie when I was younger and have watched it hundreds of times, which is why I still use the term “Beetle Bopter” and was thoroughly excited to be able to work on a genuine 351 HAMILTON Jet Boat that a mate purchased several years ago.
Nice place, but don’t think I could handle living there, too bloody cold for me and I just love the Aussie bush too much!