Arms Act 1983

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

28: Effect of revocation or surrender of firearms licence

You could also call this:

"What happens to your guns and licence if it's taken away or given back"

If your firearms licence is revoked, you must give it to the Police straight away. When your licence is revoked or surrendered, you can no longer possess arms items or ammunition. You must hand over any arms items or ammunition to the Police when they ask for them. If your licence is revoked or surrendered, you have three months to sell or get rid of any arms items or ammunition you have. The Police can keep any arms items or ammunition you give them for as long as they want, or they can become the property of the Crown. If the Crown keeps your arms items or ammunition, you will get compensation from the Minister of Finance. If you also have a dealer's licence, it will be revoked immediately and you must give it to the Police with your firearms licence. You can get in trouble if you do not follow these rules, and you might have to pay a fine or go to prison. The rules about what happens to your firearms licence are outlined in the Arms Legislation Act 2020. You must follow the rules to avoid any problems.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM72932.

This page was last updated on 27 January 2026 — View changes

Topics:

Crime and justice > Police and safetyHousing and property > Home safety and repairs

27C: Revocation of suspended firearms licence, or

"When a suspended gun licence can be taken away for good"

29: Application for endorsements in respect of pistol or restricted weapon, or

"Apply to Carry a Pistol or Restricted Weapon"

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

28Effect of revocation or surrender of firearms licence

A person whose firearms licence is revoked must immediately surrender their licence to a member of the Police.
On the revocation or surrender of a firearms licence, the holder of the licence—
ceases to be licensed to possess any arms item or ammunition under the licence or any endorsement on it; and
must, on demand, deliver any arms item or ammunition in their possession or under their control to a member of the Police.

A person whose firearms licence is revoked or surrendered may at any time within 3 months, or any longer period that the Commissioner may allow, sell or otherwise dispose of any arms item or ammunition in their possession or under their control to a person approved for the purpose by a member of the Police.
Subject to subsection (3), any arms item or ammunition delivered to a member of the Police under this section may be detained for any period that the Commissioner thinks fit, or may, in the discretion of the Minister of Police, become the property of the Crown, free and discharged from any right, title, or interest possessed by any other person.
The Minister of Finance must pay out of a Crown Bank Account compensation in respect of any arms item or ammunition that is delivered to a member of the Police under this section and that has become the property of the Crown.
If a person whose firearms licence is revoked or surrendered also holds a dealer’s licence, their dealer's licence is immediately revoked and must be surrendered with the person’s firearms licence.
A person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or to a fine not exceeding $10,000, if the person, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (1) or (2)(b).

Notes

Section 28: replaced, on 25 June 2020, by section 47 of the Arms Legislation Act 2020 (2020 No 23).