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

General requirements - Requirements for possession of standard firearms, airguns, pistols, restricted weapons, standard magazines, non-restricted parts, ammunition, etc - Requirement for possession of standard firearms and blank-firing guns

14: Requirement for possession of standard firearm

You could also call this:

"You need a licence to own a standard firearm"

If you want to have a standard firearm, you must have a firearms licence or visitor licence. This rule can be changed by other parts of the proposed law. You can get in trouble and even go to prison for up to 3 years if you break this rule without a good reason.

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 It might be out of date or be missing some parts.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=LMS1533547.

This page was last updated on 8 December 2025 — View changes

Topics:

Crime and justice > Police and safety

13: Act binds the Crown, or

"The government must follow this law about arms, but there are some exceptions."

15: Defence to prosecution for offence under section 14, or

"Defending Yourself Against Charges for Having a Firearm Without Proper Supervision"

Part 2General requirements
Requirements for possession of standard firearms, airguns, pistols, restricted weapons, standard magazines, non-restricted parts, ammunition, etc: Requirement for possession of standard firearms and blank-firing guns

14Requirement for possession of standard firearm

A person may only possess a standard firearm if the person holds a firearms licence or visitor licence.
Subsection (1) is subject to any other provision of this Act that provides otherwise.
A person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years if the person, without reasonable excuse, contravenes this section.