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New Zealand law explained for everyone

Arms Act 1983

Permits to import - Importation of firearms and ammunition

16: Offence to import firearms, etc, without permit

You could also call this:

"It's illegal to bring guns or ammo into NZ without a permit"

Illustration for Arms Act 1983

You must have a permit to bring certain items into New Zealand. These items include firearms, pistols, and ammunition. You can find more information about the laws related to firearms in the Arms Legislation Act 2020. You will commit an offence if you bring these items into New Zealand without a permit. This can result in imprisonment or a fine. The penalty is different depending on the type of item you bring in. If you bring in items like firearms or ammunition without a permit, you can be imprisoned for up to 1 year or fined up to $15,000. For more serious offences, like bringing in prohibited items, you can be imprisoned for up to 5 years. New Zealand does not include its harbours and territorial waters for the purpose of this law.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM72903.

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15: Offence to carry on dealer activities following expiry, surrender, or revocation of dealer's licence, or

"Breaking the law by dealing arms without a licence can lead to fines or prison."

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16A: Offence to import prohibited ammunition, or

"Don't bring banned ammo into NZ without a good reason"

Part 3Permits to import
Importation of firearms and ammunition

16Offence to import firearms, etc, without permit

  1. A person must have a permit to bring or cause to be brought or sent into New Zealand any of the following items:

  2. a firearm (other than a prohibited firearm), pistol, restricted airgun, restricted weapon, or blank-firing gun:
    1. any part of a firearm (other than a prohibited firearm), pistol, restricted weapon, or blank-firing gun:
      1. non-prohibited ammunition (other than projectiles for airguns):
        1. a pistol carbine conversion kit:
          1. an air pistol carbine conversion kit:
            1. a prohibited item:
              1. prohibited ammunition that is authorised or permitted expressly by or pursuant to this Act to be possessed.

                1. In subsection (1), New Zealand does not include the harbours and other territorial waters of New Zealand.

                2. A person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year, or to a fine not exceeding $15,000, if the person, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (1)(a), (b), (c), (d), or (e).

                3. A person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years if the person, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (1)(f) or (g).

                Notes
                • Section 16: replaced, on , by section 26 of the Arms Legislation Act 2020 (2020 No 23).