Arms Act 1983

Firearms licences, endorsements, and permits to possess - Permits to possess pistols, restricted weapons, prohibited firearms, prohibited magazines, and pistol carbine conversion kits

35A: Issue of permit to possess prohibited firearm or prohibited magazine

You could also call this:

"Getting a permit to have a banned gun or magazine"

You can get a permit to possess a prohibited firearm or prohibited magazine if you meet certain conditions. A member of the Police, acting under a direction of the Commissioner, can issue this permit. You must hold a dealer's licence or firearms licence with an endorsement made under section 30B that allows you to possess a prohibited firearm or prohibited magazine, and the Police must think it is appropriate for you to have it. You cannot get a permit if you are applying as an employee of a licensed dealer. If you do get a permit, it will only be valid for a certain period, which cannot be more than one month. The permit can be cancelled by a commissioned officer of Police at any time. The Police will decide if you can have a permit to possess a prohibited firearm or prohibited magazine. They must follow the rules and make sure you meet the conditions before issuing a permit.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS187287.

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

Topics:

Crime and justice > Police and safety

35AAA: Issue of permit to possess pistol carbine conversion kit, or

"Getting a permit to have a pistol carbine conversion kit"

36: Offence to carry pistol, prohibited firearm, prohibited magazine, or restricted weapon without authority, or

"Carrying banned guns without a special licence is against the law"

Part 5Firearms licences, endorsements, and permits to possess
Permits to possess pistols, restricted weapons, prohibited firearms, prohibited magazines, and pistol carbine conversion kits

35AIssue of permit to possess prohibited firearm or prohibited magazine

A permit to possess a prohibited firearm or prohibited magazine may be issued only by a member of the Police acting under a direction of the Commissioner.
A permit to possess a prohibited firearm or prohibited magazine may be issued if the applicant holds a dealer’s licence or firearms licence that bears an endorsement made under section 30B permitting the applicant to possess a prohibited firearm or prohibited magazine and the member of the Police is satisfied that it is appropriate for the applicant to possess the prohibited firearm or prohibited magazine.
A permit may not be issued under this section to an applicant acting in their capacity as an employee of a licensed dealer.
Unless sooner revoked, a permit issued under this section remains in force for the period specified in the permit, which must not exceed 1 month.
A permit may at any time be revoked by a commissioned officer of Police.

Notes

Section 35A: inserted, on 12 April 2019, by section 39 of the Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 12).
Section 35A(2): replaced, on 25 June 2020, by section 60 of the Arms Legislation Act 2020 (2020 No 23).
Section 35A(2A): inserted, on 25 June 2020, by section 60 of the Arms Legislation Act 2020 (2020 No 23).