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Arms Act 1983

General restrictions - General restrictions on possession of firearms and airguns

21: Restrictions on possession of airguns

You could also call this:

"Rules for owning airguns in New Zealand"

Illustration for Arms Act 1983

You must be 18 years or older to have an airgun. You can have an airgun if you are 16 or 17 years old and have a firearms licence. If you break this rule without a good reason, you can be fined up to $1,000.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM72918.

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Crime and justice > Police and safety
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Part 4General restrictions
General restrictions on possession of firearms and airguns

21Restrictions on possession of airguns

  1. Except as otherwise provided in this Act or as otherwise provided in regulations made under this Act, no person shall have an airgun in his possession unless—

  2. he is of or over the age of 18 years; or
    1. he is between 16 years and 18 years of age and is the holder of a firearms licence.

      1. A person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 if the person, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (1).

      2. Nothing in this section applies in relation to the possession of specially dangerous airguns.

      Notes
      • Section 21(2): replaced, on , by section 36 of the Arms Legislation Act 2020 (2020 No 23).