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Arms Act 1983

Permits to import - Importation of firearms and ammunition

19: Seizure of illegally imported items

You could also call this:

"What happens to guns or ammo brought into New Zealand without a permit"

Illustration for Arms Act 1983

If you suspect someone has brought a firearm or ammunition into New Zealand without a permit, you can seize the item. You must have reasonable grounds to suspect this has happened, and the item must be one referred to in section 16. This can happen if the item was brought into New Zealand without a permit issued under section 18, 18AA, or 18AAB. If you seize an item, you can detain it and use reasonable force to do so. You can seize the item if it was brought into New Zealand's harbours or waters and is intended to be brought into the country without a permit. The rules in sections 65 and 70 will apply to the seized item. If the Police or a Customs officer seizes an item, they will follow the rules that apply to seized items. These rules will help decide what happens to the item next. The officer can use force to seize the item if necessary.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM72913.

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Crime and justice > Police and safetyTransport and travel > Border control
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"Exporting items that don't match what you showed the Police"

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Part 3Permits to import
Importation of firearms and ammunition

19Seizure of illegally imported items

  1. Subsection (2) applies if a member of the Police or a Customs officer suspects on reasonable grounds that an item referred to in section 16—

  2. has been brought into New Zealand without a permit issued under section 18, 18AA, or 18AAB; or
    1. has been brought into the harbours or other territorial waters of New Zealand and is intended to be brought into New Zealand without a permit issued under section 18, 18AA, or 18AAB.

      1. If this subsection applies, the member of the Police or the Customs officer may—

      2. seize and detain the item; and
        1. use any reasonable necessary force to seize the item.

          1. If an item is seized and detained under subsection (2), sections 65 and 70 apply, with all necessary modifications, in respect of that item.

          Notes
          • Section 19: replaced, on , by section 32 of the Arms Legislation Act 2020 (2020 No 23).