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Arms Bill

Shooting clubs and shooting ranges

208: Interpretation

You could also call this:

"What special words mean in the Arms Bill"

When you read this part of the proposed Arms Bill, some words have special meanings. An application for approval means asking to have a pistol shooting club approved under section 211. You make this application to have a club approved. You can also make an application for certification to have a pistol shooting range certified under section 226. A non-pistol shooting club is a club that does not use pistols. A non-pistol shooting range is a range where pistols cannot be used. A pistol shooting club is a club that lets people use pistols for shooting activities. A pistol shooting range is a range where pistols can be used. The range operator is the person running the range. Range standing orders are documents that describe the range and its rules. Shooting activities are things you do with a firearm, pistol, or airgun to shoot targets. This does not include paintball or airsoft shooting. A shooting club is a group of people with written rules who shoot regularly. A shooting event is something that happens at a temporary non-pistol range with shooting activities. It can last up to 4 days. A shooting range is a place where people shoot, and it can be indoors or outdoors. It includes defence areas used by shooting clubs. A temporary non-pistol shooting range is set up for 2 or fewer events per year.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1533889.

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

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207: Issue of permit to possess restricted firearm or restricted magazine, or

"Getting a permit to have a restricted firearm or magazine"

209: Pistol shooting club must have certificate of approval, or

"Pistol shooting clubs need a special approval certificate to operate legally"

Part 5Shooting clubs and shooting ranges

208Interpretation

In this Part,—
application for approval means an application made under section 211 to have a pistol shooting club approved
application for certification means an application made under section 226 to have a pistol shooting range certified
non-pistol shooting club means a shooting club that is not a pistol shooting club
non-pistol shooting range means a shooting range at which pistols cannot be used
pistol shooting club means a shooting club that facilitates participation in shooting activities that include the use of pistols
pistol shooting range means a shooting range at which pistols can be used
range operator means the person who is operating, or proposing to operate, a shooting range
range standing orders, in relation to a shooting range, means a document that—
1. describes the design of the shooting range; and
2. sets out the operational detail, and conditions of use, of the shooting range
shooting activities—
1. means activities that are carried out using a standard firearm, a pistol, or an airgun for the purpose of shooting at inanimate targets (whether fixed or moving); but
2. excludes—
  1. paintball shooting; and
  2. airsoft shooting
shooting club means a voluntary association of people who—
1. act in accordance with a set of written rules; and
2. participate in, or intend to participate in, shooting activities on a regular basis
shooting event, in relation to a temporary non-pistol shooting range, means an event that—
1. includes shooting activities; and
2. lasts for not more than 4 days, with the first day being the day the event commences for participants (who are not event organisers or staff)
shooting range—
1. means a facility (whether indoor or outdoor), or a designated area of land, used by a shooting club or members of the public for the primary purpose of carrying out shooting activities; and
2. includes any defence area (as that term is defined in section 2(1) of the Defence Act 1990) used by a shooting club
temporary non-pistol shooting range means a non-pistol shooting range that is set up temporarily for no more than 2 shooting events in any calendar year.