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Arms Bill

General requirements - Requirements for carrying on business activities - Requirements relating to possession of certain arms items for business activities

58: Requirements relating to possession of restricted firearm, restricted magazine, pistol, pistol carbine conversion kit, or restricted weapon for business activities

You could also call this:

"Rules for businesses using restricted firearms and weapons"

If you have a business licence, you can possess certain restricted arms items for your business. You must be authorised to carry on the business activity with the restricted item and your business licence must have the right endorsement. You also need to meet one of the conditions, such as having a permit to import or possess the item, or having made the item with approval under section 65. If you break these rules without a good reason, you can be punished with a fine or imprisonment. This applies to individual business owners and senior managers of companies. There are more details about these punishments in section 334. You need to follow these rules when possessing restricted firearms, magazines, pistols, or other restricted weapons for your business. The rules are in place to ensure you use these items safely and legally. You must comply with the conditions to avoid penalties.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1533633.

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

Topics:

Business > Industry rulesCrime and justice > Police and safety

57: Persons carrying on business activity must be licensed, or

"Businesses selling guns must have a licence"

59: Requirements relating to possession of restricted part for business activities, or

"Rules for businesses having restricted firearm parts"

Part 2General requirements
Requirements for carrying on business activities: Requirements relating to possession of certain arms items for business activities

58Requirements relating to possession of restricted firearm, restricted magazine, pistol, pistol carbine conversion kit, or restricted weapon for business activities

A licensed business may possess an arms item that is a restricted firearm, restricted magazine, pistol, pistol carbine conversion kit, or restricted weapon for the purpose of carrying on a business activity if—
the licensed business is authorised to carry on the business activity in relation to the restricted firearm, restricted magazine, pistol, pistol carbine conversion kit, or restricted weapon; and
the business licence bears an appropriate endorsement; and
any of the following apply:
1. the holder of the business licence has been issued with—
  1. a permit to import the arms item; or
  2. a permit to possess the arms item; or
2. the arms item has been manufactured by the licensed business with the written approval of the chief executive under section 65; or
3. the arms item is a pistol, restricted weapon, or restricted firearm and section 21(2) or 33(2) applies.

A licensed business that is an individual commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years, or to a fine not exceeding $40,000, if the individual, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (1).
The senior manager of a body corporate that is a licensed business commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years, or to a fine not exceeding $40,000, if the body corporate, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (1).
Subsections (2) and (3) are subject to section 334.