Arms Act 1983

Offences - Offences

49A: Unlawful possession of firearm, prohibited magazine, prohibited part, or airgun after revocation of firearms licence

You could also call this:

"Having a gun or related items after your licence is cancelled is against the law"

If you have a firearms licence that has been revoked, you commit an offence if you have a firearm, prohibited magazine, prohibited part, or airgun and you are not allowed to have it. You can be punished with up to 1 year in prison or a fine of up to $4,000, or both. This applies if you do not have a firearms licence and are not authorised to have the firearm, prohibited magazine, prohibited part, or airgun under the Arms Act.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM72994.

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

Topics:

Crime and justice > Police and safetyCrime and justice > Criminal law

49: Using, discharging, or carrying certain firearms except for some lawful, proper, or sufficient purpose, or

"Using firearms without a good reason is against the law"

50: Unlawful possession of pistol or restricted weapon, or

"Having a pistol or restricted weapon without permission is against the law"

Part 8Offences
Offences

49AUnlawful possession of firearm, prohibited magazine, prohibited part, or airgun after revocation of firearms licence

Every person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year or to a fine not exceeding $4,000 or to both who, being a person whose firearms licence has been revoked, is in possession of a firearm, prohibited magazine, prohibited part, or airgun at a time when that person is not the holder of a firearms licence, and is not a person authorised, expressly or by implication, by or pursuant to this Act, to be in possession of that firearm, prohibited magazine, prohibited part, or airgun.

Notes

Section 49A: inserted, on 1 November 1992, by section 26 of the Arms Amendment Act 1992 (1992 No 95).
Section 49A heading: amended, on 12 April 2019, by section 50(1) of the Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 12).
Section 49A: amended, on 12 April 2019, by section 50(2) of the Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 12).
Section 49A: amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).