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New Zealand law explained for everyone

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Arms Bill

General requirements - Requirements for importing arms items, air pistol carbine conversion kits, and ammunition

55: Requirement for importing firearms, etc

You could also call this:

"Getting a permit to bring guns and related items into New Zealand"

Illustration for Arms Bill

If you want to bring certain items into New Zealand, you will need a permit. These items include firearms, blank-firing guns, and restricted airguns. You will also need a permit for things like ammunition and certain parts. When this law talks about New Zealand, it does not include the harbours and other territorial waters. If you break this rule without a good reason, you could get in trouble. You might have to pay a fine or go to prison for up to 1 year for some items. For other items, like pistols and restricted weapons, the punishment could be more severe. You might have to pay a fine or go to prison for up to 5 years if you break the 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 It might be out of date or be missing some parts.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=LMS1533626.

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Topics:
Crime and justice > Police and safetyTransport and travel > Border control
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"Selling guns or ammo online: what you need to do"

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56: Requirement for importing restricted ammunition, or

"Importing restricted ammo into NZ: you need a permit and permission"

Part 2General requirements
Requirements for importing arms items, air pistol carbine conversion kits, and ammunition

55Requirement for importing firearms, etc

  1. A person who is importing into New Zealand any of the following items must have a permit to import the item:

  2. a standard firearm:
    1. an exempt standard firearm:
      1. a blank-firing gun:
        1. an exempt blank-firing gun:
          1. a permanently deactivated firearm:
            1. a restricted airgun:
              1. a standard magazine:
                1. a large-capacity pistol magazine:
                  1. a pistol carbine conversion kit:
                    1. an air pistol carbine conversion kit:
                      1. a non-restricted part:
                        1. a part of a blank-firing gun:
                          1. ammunition:
                            1. a pistol:
                              1. a restricted weapon:
                                1. a restricted firearm:
                                  1. a restricted magazine:
                                    1. a restricted part.

                                      1. In subsection (1), New Zealand does not include the harbours and other territorial waters of New Zealand.

                                      2. A person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year, or to a fine not exceeding $15,000, if the person, without reasonable excuse, contravenes any of paragraphs (a) to (m) of subsection (1).

                                      3. A person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years if the person, without reasonable excuse, contravenes any of paragraphs (n) to (r) of subsection (1).