Word of warning - weapons
Just thought I would let everyone know about a slight problem with our shipment which the shippers (Crown) didn't warn us about and didn't even mention when they e-mailed to confirm it had cleared customs.
Dave bought a dagger in Saudi years ago, purely for ornamental purposes, but it is a bit wicked. I've just had a letter delivered by courier to say that the dagger has been confiscated by Customs as we didn't have a 'Police consent to import' for it :oops: . Apparently we have a month to apply to the police and get a consent. Had to contact the Arms Officer at local police station. Feilding put me through to a guy in Palmerston North who said 'yes, this happens all the time'. Dave has to write a letter explaining his circumstances here, work, work permit etc. with a description of the dagger and the circumstances under which it was bought and that we would like to keep it. Then he has to make an appointment to see this guy and arrange the formalitites.
So for anybody else out there with any kind of weapon, even ornamental - get advice from your shippers first on how to apply for police consent. To be fair it wasn't mentioned when they came to do the quote and it would have been too late when they came to pack up. Although you would think they would know to check on anything you are sending that may need permits :(
A knife is just a knife, whatever name you give it...
Just like to add my two-pence worth… I can’t understand why a dagger should be confiscated, and certainly they shouldn’t confiscate a Sgian Dubh (Scottish dress knife). What’s the difference between these and any of the knives in the kitchen draw? In fact, some of the ‘butchers’ type kitchen knives would be far more ‘formidable’ if used as a weapon… the only real difference is in the name! Well, that and the fact that the Sgian Dubh would be a little more ornamental, and costly! I know flick knives are prohibited, but even that is a far outdated law. The mere mention of a “flick knife” conjures up images of Marlon Brando in “The Wild One” and other such 50’s era films, however, statistics show that most ‘knife’ related incidents are carried out using a kitchen knife, and most football hooligan ‘slash’ type injuries are done with a workman’s ‘Stanley’ knife.
A knife is just a tool that we use to do a job, whether it is peeling spuds or cutting meat. Society seems to put too much emphasis on inanimate objects becoming potential weapons, knives are just knives no matter what ‘name’ we give them. Whilst the powers that be still allow us to cut our own bread, fillet our own fish and carve our own meat, there will be a few amongst us who will use these ‘tools’ to intentionally harm themselves or others… that’s life! :?
Sorry if I sound like I’m on a soap-box but it is a subject close to my heart. I have an interest in knife making as a hobby. There are a few custom knife makers in NZ, and their work is fantastic, with pieces being commissioned by customers all over the world. On a personal note… I hope the customs folk are not over zealous when they inspect my ‘lot’, as I intend to take lots of knives (I will call them kitchen knives if it makes them happy)! Oh… and then there’s my firearm collection!! :uhoh