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New Zealand law explained for everyone

Arms Act 1983

Shooting clubs and shooting ranges

38A: Interpretation

You could also call this:

"What special words mean in the Arms Act"

Illustration for Arms Act 1983

When you read this part of the law, some words have special meanings. An application for approval means asking to have a pistol shooting club approved under section 38D. You make an application for certification to have a pistol shooting range certified under section 38S. You are part of a pistol shooting club if you are in a group that uses pistols for shooting activities. A pistol shooting range is a place where you can use pistols for shooting. A range operator is the person in charge of a shooting range. Shooting activities are things you do with a firearm or airgun to shoot at targets. This does not include paintball or airsoft shooting. A shooting club is a group of people who follow rules and do shooting activities regularly. A shooting range is a place where people go to do shooting activities. This can be a special building or a designated area of land. A temporary non-pistol shooting range is a non-pistol shooting range that is set up for a short time, usually for a special event.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS711369.

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Part 6Shooting clubs and shooting ranges

38AInterpretation

  1. In this Part,—

    application for approval means an application made under section 38D to have a pistol shooting club approved

      application for certification means an application made under section 38S to have a pistol shooting range certified

        non-pistol shooting club means a shooting club that is not a pistol shooting club

          non-pistol shooting range means a shooting range at which pistols cannot be used

            pistol shooting club means a shooting club that facilitates participation in shooting activities that include the use of pistols

              pistol shooting range means a shooting range at which pistols can be used

                range operator means the person who is operating, or proposing to operate, a shooting range

                  range standing orders, in relation to a shooting range, means a document that—

                  1. describes the design of the shooting range; and
                    1. sets out the operational detail, and conditions of use, of the shooting range

                      shooting activities—

                      1. means activities that are carried out using a firearm or an airgun for the purpose of shooting at inanimate targets (whether fixed or moving); but
                        1. excludes—
                          1. paintball shooting; and
                            1. airsoft shooting

                            shooting club means a voluntary association of people who—

                            1. act in accordance with a set of written rules; and
                              1. participate in, or intend to participate in, shooting activities on a regular basis

                                shooting event, in relation to a temporary non-pistol shooting range, means an event that—

                                1. includes shooting activities; and
                                  1. lasts for not more than 4 days, with the first day being the day the event commences for participants (who are not event organisers or staff)

                                    shooting range—

                                    1. means a facility (whether indoor or outdoor), or a designated area of land, used by a shooting club or members of the public for the primary purpose of carrying out shooting activities; and
                                      1. includes any defence area (as that term is defined in section 2(1) of the Defence Act 1990) used by a shooting club

                                        temporary non-pistol shooting range means a non-pistol shooting range that is set up temporarily for no more than 2 shooting events in any calendar year.

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