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Arms Act 1983

Firearms licences, endorsements, and permits to possess - Firearms licences

24: Issue of firearms licence

You could also call this:

"How to Get a Licence to Own a Gun in New Zealand"

Illustration for Arms Act 1983

To get a firearms licence, you must meet some conditions. You need to be at least 16 years old and be a fit and proper person to have a firearm or airgun. The Police must also be satisfied with how you will store your firearms and ammunition. You can store them yourself if your storage facilities meet the requirements, or if you are a visitor, you need to make arrangements that the Police are happy with. The Police will check these things before they decide to give you a licence. The Police will not give you a licence if they think someone who is not allowed to have a firearm might get access to yours. This includes people who have been disqualified from having a licence or have had their licence revoked. The Police also need to be satisfied that you are a fit and proper person to have a firearm. When you get a licence, the Police will tell your doctor that you now have a firearms licence, but this does not apply if you are just visiting New Zealand. This rule is part of the Arms Legislation Act 2020.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM72923.

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Crime and justice > Police and safetyGovernment and voting > Government departments
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23: Application for firearms licence, or

"How to get a licence to own a gun in New Zealand"

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24A: Fit and proper person to possess firearm or airgun, or

"Who can own a gun: being a fit and proper person"

Part 5Firearms licences, endorsements, and permits to possess
Firearms licences

24Issue of firearms licence

  1. Subject to subsection (2), a firearms licence must be issued by a member of the Police to an applicant if the member of the Police is satisfied that—

  2. the applicant—
    1. is of or over the age of 16 years; and
      1. is a fit and proper person to be in possession of a firearm or an airgun; and
      2. either—
        1. the applicant’s storage facilities for their firearms and ammunition have been inspected by a member of the Police and are compliant with the requirements for the secure storage of firearms and ammunition; or
          1. if the applicant is a visitor, a member of the Police is satisfied with the arrangements made by the applicant for the storage of the firearms and ammunition they will possess while in New Zealand.

          2. A firearms licence must not be issued to an applicant if, in the opinion of a commissioned officer of Police, access to any firearm or an airgun in possession of the applicant is reasonably likely to be obtained by any person who—

          3. is disqualified from holding a firearms licence; or
            1. has had their firearms licence revoked on the ground that they are not a fit and proper person to be in possession of a firearm or an airgun; or
              1. is not a fit and proper person to be in possession of a firearm or an airgun.

                1. As soon as is reasonably practicable after issuing a firearms licence to a person, a member of the Police must notify the person’s health practitioner that a firearms licence has been issued to the person.

                2. Subsection (3) does not apply to an applicant who is a visitor.

                Notes
                • Section 24: replaced, on , by section 41 of the Arms Legislation Act 2020 (2020 No 23).