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Arms Act 1983

Shooting clubs and shooting ranges - Compliance

38XK: Inspections of shooting clubs and shooting ranges

You could also call this:

"Police inspections of shooting clubs and ranges to ensure they are safe and follow the law"

Illustration for Arms Act 1983

You can expect a police officer to inspect a shooting club or range to ensure it follows the law. The officer must be authorised by the Commissioner and can enter the range or club to inspect it. They can also look at documents and take copies of them. You will get at least 7 days' notice before the police inspect a shooting club or range. The police can inspect a pistol range when they are considering an application for certification or renewal. They can inspect a non-pistol range when they are considering an application for enrolment, and then every 5 years. The police must follow the rules set out in Part 4 of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012, except for subpart 3. This means they have to act in a certain way when inspecting the club or range. The police are making sure the club or range is safe and following the rules.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1452020.

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38XJ: Cancellation of enrolment, or

"When a shooting range isn't safe or following rules, the Commissioner can cancel its enrolment."

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38XL: Improvement notices, or

"A warning to fix a problem with a gun club or range"

Part 6Shooting clubs and shooting ranges
Compliance

38XKInspections of shooting clubs and shooting ranges

  1. For the purpose of ensuring that a shooting club or shooting range is operated in accordance with this Act, a person who is a member of the Police and authorised in writing by the Commissioner may—

  2. enter and inspect—
    1. any shooting range (including any shooting club that is part of the range); and
      1. any place where the shooting club stores firearms or ammunition:
      2. inspect, print, or copy documents that the person believes on reasonable grounds to be those of the shooting club or shooting range:
        1. remove any hard copy documents that the person believes on reasonable grounds to be those of the shooting club or shooting range.

          1. Unless there is a change of circumstances that may affect its safety, an inspection under subsection (1) may only be undertaken,—

          2. in respect of a pistol shooting range, when the Commissioner is considering an application for—
            1. certification; or
              1. renewal of its certification:
              2. in respect of a non-pistol shooting range, when the Commissioner is considering an application for enrolment, and then at intervals of not less than 5 years.

                1. A member of the Police must give at least 7 days’ notice of their intention to enter and inspect a venue of a shooting club or shooting range.

                2. The provisions of Part 4 of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 (apart from subpart 3) apply.

                Notes
                • Section 38XK: inserted, on , by section 5 of the Arms (Shooting Clubs, Shooting Ranges, and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 15).