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New Zealand law explained for everyone

This page is about a bill. That means that it's not the law yet, but some people want it to be the law. It could change quickly, and some of the information is just a draft.

Arms Bill

Preliminary provisions - Interpretation

8: Meaning of restricted airgun

You could also call this:

"What makes an airgun restricted in New Zealand"

Illustration for Arms Bill

This proposed law change talks about what a restricted airgun is. You will know an airgun is restricted if it looks like a real gun, even without its usual attachments. It is also restricted if it looks like a real gun when you add some or all of its attachments. Some airguns used in sports like airsoft or paintball are restricted if they look like guns that can fire automatically. You do not need the airgun to look like a specific type of gun for it to be considered restricted. The law change says an airgun can look like a gun that can fire automatically, without looking like a particular model of gun.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1533533.

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9: Meaning of restricted firearm, or

"What is a restricted firearm in New Zealand law?"

Part 1Preliminary provisions
Interpretation

8Meaning of restricted airgun

  1. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, restricted airgun means an airgun that,—

  2. without any of the attachments with which it is customarily used, has the appearance of being a standard firearm, restricted firearm, pistol, or restricted weapon; or
    1. with some or all of the attachments with which it is customarily used, has the appearance of being a pistol, restricted firearm, or restricted weapon; or
      1. is designed for use in airsoft or paintball sports and,—
        1. without any of the attachments with which it is customarily used, has the appearance of being a firearm capable of full automatic fire; or
          1. with some or all of the attachments with which it is customarily used, has the appearance of being a firearm capable of full automatic fire.

          2. For the purposes of subsection (1), an airgun may have the appearance of a standard firearm, restricted firearm, pistol, or restricted weapon capable of full automatic fire without having the appearance of any particular model of standard firearm, restricted firearm, pistol, or restricted weapon capable of full automatic fire.