This page is about a bill. That means that it's not the law yet, but some people want it to be the law. It could change quickly, and some of the information is just a draft.

Arms Bill

Further offences and firearms prohibition orders - Firearms prohibition orders

288: Interpretation

You could also call this:

"What special words mean in the Arms Bill"

In this part of the proposed law, some words have special meanings. You need to know what these words mean to understand the law. The law explains what these words mean. When the law talks about an associate of a gang or an organised criminal group, it means someone who spends time with them. The law also explains what criminal activity means - it is something that breaks the law. A firearm or related item includes real guns, fake guns, and ammunition. The law says insignia refers to signs or symbols that show someone belongs to a gang or group, but it does not include tattoos. It also includes things like clothes or vehicles with these signs or symbols on them. The law explains who is considered a member of a gang or organised criminal group. This includes people who want to join, people who show they belong by displaying the gang's signs or symbols, and people who help the gang with criminal activities. A prospective member or nominee is someone who is part of the gang but does not have full membership yet.

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 It might be out of date or be missing some parts.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=LMS1533969.

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

Topics:

Crime and justice > Criminal lawCrime and justice > Police and safety

287: Protection of persons acting under authority of this Act, or

"People who follow this law are protected and can't be sued if they act in good faith."

289: When FPO may be made, or

"When a court can stop you from having guns"

Part 6Further offences and firearms prohibition orders
Firearms prohibition orders

288Interpretation

In this subpart,—
associate of a gang or an organised criminal group means an individual who associates with a gang or an organised criminal group
criminal activity means an activity that constitutes the commission of an offence
firearm or related item means any arms item, imitation firearm, or ammunition
insignia, in relation to a gang or an organised criminal group,—
1. means a sign, symbol, or representation commonly displayed to denote membership of, or an affiliation with, a gang or an organised criminal group, not being a tattoo; and
2. includes any item or thing to which a sign, symbol, or representation referred to in paragraph (a) is attached or affixed (for example, clothing or a vehicle)
member of a gang or an organised criminal group includes the following:
1. an individual who is a prospective member or nominee:
2. an individual who demonstrates affiliation to a gang or an organised criminal group by displaying the gang’s or group’s insignia:
3. an individual who is involved in the affairs of a gang or an organised criminal group for the likely purpose of participating in a criminal activity
prospective member or nominee, in relation to a gang or an organised criminal group, means a person who is a member of the gang or the organised criminal group but who does not have full membership status.