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Arms Bill

Licences and approvals - Business licences - Records

97: Keeping records

You could also call this:

"Keeping track of firearms and ammunition sales"

If you have a business licence, you must keep a book that records certain details about the arms items or ammunition you buy, sell, or make. You must keep this book at your business premises and make sure it has all the required information. You will need to keep the book for at least 10 years. You must let any officer of the Arms Regulator look at your book and make copies of the entries if they ask. You must also give them any other information they ask for about your dealings with certain types of firearms or weapons. If you do not keep the book or give the required information, you could be fined up to $10,000 or imprisoned for up to 6 months. This also applies to senior managers of companies that hold a business licence. There are some exceptions to these rules, which are outlined in the regulations.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1533695.

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

Topics:

Business > Industry rulesCrime and justice > Police and safety

96: Extension of business licence pending determination of application for new business licence, or

"Keeping your business licence while you wait for a new one"

98: Ceasing to carry on business activities, or

"Telling the boss when you stop doing licensed business activities"

Part 3Licences and approvals
Business licences: Records

97Keeping records

A licensed business must keep at the place of business referred to in the business licence a book that records the prescribed particulars relating to transactions conducted in the course of carrying on all business activities that involve the receipt, sale, supply, or manufacture of arms items or ammunition.
A licensed business that keeps its book under subsection (1) in hard copy form must retain the book for at least 10 years from the date of the last entry in the book.
A licensed business that keeps its book under subsection (1) electronically must retain each electronic record for at least 10 years from the date on which the record is entered.
A licensed business must at all times—
permit any officer of the Arms Regulator to inspect and make copies of any entries in the book kept under subsection (1); and
provide, on demand, to any officer of the Arms Regulator all further information in its possession with respect to any dealings by it relating to standard firearms, airguns, pistols, pistol carbine conversion kits, restricted items, or restricted weapons.

Despite subsection (1), a licensed business need not record particulars under that subsection if—
the particulars are declared by regulations made under section 362 to be exempt from the requirement in that subsection; or
the licensed business provides the particulars to the chief executive in accordance with the regulations.

An individual who holds a business licence commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or to a fine not exceeding $10,000, if the individual, without reasonable excuse, contravenes this section.
A senior manager of a body corporate who holds a business licence that authorises the body corporate to carry on 1 or more business activities commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or to a fine not exceeding $10,000, if the body corporate, without reasonable excuse, contravenes this section.
Subsections (6) and (7) are subject to section 332(9).