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Arms Bill

Further offences and firearms prohibition orders - Offences relating to licences

247: Altering or misusing licence

You could also call this:

"Breaking the rules with a gun licence can get you in trouble"

If you alter a licence to deceive someone, you can get in trouble. You might add or erase words or figures on the licence. You could also use a licence that has been altered. If you are a licence holder and you give your licence to someone else on purpose, that is not allowed. You also cannot use a licence that belongs to someone else to get a firearm or ammunition. This includes things like guns, pistols, and airguns. If you do any of these things, you could go to prison for up to 2 years or get a fine of up to $20,000.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1533985.

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

Topics:

Crime and justice > Police and safetyWork and jobs > Job licenses

246: Providing false information in licence application, or

"Telling lies on a gun licence application is against the law"

248: Occupier of premises or driver of vehicle deemed to be in possession of standard firearm, restricted firearm, imitation firearm, pistol, restricted weapon, airgun, restricted magazine, or explosive found in premises or vehicle, or

"You may be responsible for guns or explosives found on your property or in your vehicle"

Part 6Further offences and firearms prohibition orders
Offences relating to licences

247Altering or misusing licence

A person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to a fine not exceeding $20,000, if the person,—
with intent to deceive,—
1. adds to a licence any words or figures extraneous to the licence as issued; or
2. alters on or erases from any licence any words or figures; or
3. uses or retains any licence—
  1. to which have been added any words or figures extraneous to the licence as issued; or
  2. from which any words or figures have been erased from the licence as issued; or
  3. on which any words or figures on the licence as issued have been altered; or
being a licence holder, wilfully parts with possession of their licence in order that the licence may be used by another person; or
uses or attempts to use a licence issued in the name of another person with the intention of procuring the possession of any standard firearm, restricted firearm, pistol, restricted weapon, airgun (including a restricted airgun), standard magazine, large-capacity magazine, restricted magazine, or ammunition.