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Arms Bill

Licences and approvals - Business licences - Applying for business licence

88: Hiring out firearms for use by bona fide theatre company, etc

You could also call this:

"Rules for hiring out guns to theatre and film companies"

If you hire out firearms to a theatre company or film production company, you must follow some rules. You need to make sure the firearms are used under the supervision of a theatrical armourer who is on site. If you do not follow these rules, you could be fined up to $10,000. If you are in charge of a company that hires out firearms, you could also be fined up to $10,000 if your company does not follow the rules. This applies if you are a licensed business and you hire out certain types of firearms without supervising their use. You must have a good reason for not following the rules to avoid being fined. The rules apply to hiring out standard firearms, pistols, and other restricted weapons to theatre companies or film production companies. You must supervise the use of these firearms to ensure they are used safely. If you break the rules without a good reason, you will commit an offence and may be fined.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1533681.

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

Topics:

Business > Industry rulesCrime and justice > Police and safetyArts and culture > Arts funding

87: Gun shows, or

"Running a gun show at a different location needs special approval"

89: Business licence not transferable, or

"A business licence belongs to one person and cannot be given to someone else."

Part 3Licences and approvals
Business licences: Applying for business licence

88Hiring out firearms for use by bona fide theatre company, etc

This section applies if a licensed business hires out standard firearms, restricted magazines, pistols, restricted weapons, or restricted magazines for use by a bona fide theatre company or society, cinematic or television film production company, or video recording production company.
The use of the standard firearms, restricted magazines, pistols, restricted weapons, or restricted magazines by members of the company or society must be supervised by an on-site theatrical armourer.
A licensed business that is an individual commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 if the individual, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (1) or (2).
The senior manager of a body corporate that is a licensed business commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 if the body corporate, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (1) or (2).