5 DECEMBER NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

Summary of Bills Introduced

Arms Amendment

This bill seeks to amend the Arms Act 1983 to provide stricter controls on the importation and possession of military style semi-automatic firearms. Weapons of this type are to be designated as a separate class of firearms for which permits must be obtained before they are to be imported or owned. Permits which are required for the importation of the firearms or parts thereof, are non-transferable and will expire 12 months after the date of issue. Importers of such weapons will provide the Police with samples of the firearms to which the permit relates. Illegally imported firearms or restricted weapons can be seized by the Police.

The bill seeks to enable holders of firearms licences to apply for an endorsement permitting that person to possess a military style semi-automatic firearm. Members of the Police in determining the application are to be satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to be in possession of that type of weapon. The endorsement may be subject to conditions.

Under this bill, new applicants for firearms licences and for military style semi-automatic firearms endorsements will have to provide photographs to be affixed to their licences. Also, the Commissioner of Police is able to call in firearms licences so that photographs of holders may be affixed either to those licences or to replacement licences.

Provisions in the principal Act dealing with the issue of permits to procure pistols and restricted weapons and the removal of such weapons from New Zealand are extended to military style semi-automatic firearms.

The bill seeks to make it an offence to be in possession of a firearm or airgun when not holding a licence. Also, the provisions in the principal Act which make unlawful possession of a pistol or restricted weapon an offence are to be extended to the unlawful possession of a military style semi-automatic firearm.

Auckland City Council (Rates Relief) Empowering

The object of this Local Bill is to provide temporary relief from rates increases for ratepayers aged 65 years and over living in the Auckland City Council district.

White Island Marine Protected Area

The purpose of this Private Member’s Bill is to restrict the use of certain fishing methods in the vicinity of White Island and Volkner Rocks in order to ensure the continued availability of fish species which are especially sought after by recreational fishers in this area, or which are of interest for non-extractive purposes, and to prevent conflict between different types of fishing methods.

The area affected by this bill is the land, water and seabed 1.5 nautical miles around White Island and around Volkner Rocks. The bill would make it an offence to use nets, long lines, trawl lines, Danish seine nets and purse seine nets.

Government Notices

Agriculture and Fisheries

Noxious Plants Act 1978

Notice Revoking Classification of Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) as a Class B Noxious Plant (No. 5125; Ag 1570-03-3)

1. That part of the notice declaring hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) as a Class B noxious plant in that part of New Zealand lying within the boundaries of Southland Regional Council Noxious Plants Authority, published in the New Zealand Gazette on 22 March 1990, No. 43, page 954, is, pursuant to section 19 of the Noxious Plants Act 1978, hereby revoked.

2. This notice shall come into effect on the day after its date of notification in the Gazette.

Dated at Wellington this 18th day of November 1991.

J. L. RANDALL, Secretary, Noxious Plants Council.

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Commerce

Dumping and Countervailing Duties Act 1988

Initiation of Dumping Investigation: Passenger Radial Tyres from Japan, Korea and Taiwan

Notice is hereby given that I, Alexander Hugh McPhail, Manager, Trade Remedies Group, Ministry of Commerce, acting pursuant to section 10 (1) of the Dumping and Countervailing Duties Act 1988 and under delegated authority from the Secretary of Commerce, have initiated an investigation to determine both the existence and effect of alleged dumping of the goods listed in the Schedule to this notice, being satisfied that sufficient evidence has been provided that:

(a) The goods imported or intended to be imported into New Zealand are being dumped; and

(b) By reason thereof of material injury to an industry has been or is being caused, or is threatened.