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Arms Bill
Further offences and firearms prohibition orders
Offences relating to carrying, possessing, or presenting arms items
252: Unlawfully carrying or possessing restricted firearm, pistol, or restricted weapon in public place

Explanatory note

General policy statement Departmental disclosure statement Regulatory impact statement Clause by clause analysis

Part 1:
Preliminary provisions

Purposes and principles

Interpretation

5Interpretation 6Meaning of business activity 7Meaning of animal and biosecurity controller 8Meaning of restricted airgun 9Meaning of restricted firearm 10Meaning of restricted magazine 11Meaning of restricted weapon

Application

12Transitional, savings, and related provisions 13Act binds the Crown

Part 2:
General requirements

Requirements for possession of standard firearms, airguns, pistols, restricted weapons, standard magazines, non-restricted parts, ammunition, etc

Requirements for possession of restricted firearms, restricted magazines, restricted parts, and restricted ammunition

Requirements for possession of restricted firearms

31Requirements for possession of restricted firearm 32Exception for employees of animal and biosecurity controllers sharing possession of restricted firearms 33Exception if repairs or modifications to restricted firearm undertaken by licensed business

Requirements for possession of restricted magazines

34Requirements for possession of restricted magazine 35Exception for employees of animal and biosecurity controllers sharing possession of restricted magazines

Requirements for possession of restricted parts

36Requirements for possession of restricted parts

Requirement for possession of restricted ammunition

37Requirement for possession of restricted ammunition

Requirements for possession of certain arms items for theatrical purposes

38Possession of firearm, pistol, restricted item, or restricted weapon for theatrical purposes

Requirements for selling or supplying arms items and ammunition

Selling or supplying arms items manufactured for personal use

39Requirement for selling or supplying arms item manufactured for personal use by firearms licence holder

Selling or supplying firearms, blank-firing guns, and airguns

40Requirements for selling or supplying standard firearm, blank-firing gun, or airgun 41Defence to prosecution for offence under section 40

Selling or supplying pistols and restricted weapons

42Requirement for selling or supplying pistol or restricted weapon 43Defence to prosecution for offence under section 42

Selling or supplying pistol carbine conversion kits or large-capacity pistol magazines

44Requirements for selling or supplying pistol carbine conversion kit or large-capacity pistol magazine 45Defence to prosecution under section 44

Selling or supplying parts of restricted weapons

46Requirement for selling or supplying part of restricted weapon

Selling or supplying ammunition

47Requirement for selling or supplying ammunition 48Exceptions to section 47(1)49Defence to prosecution under section 47(2)

Selling or supplying restricted firearms and restricted magazines

50Requirements for selling or supplying restricted firearms or restricted magazines 51Limited exemption for semi-automatic pistols

Selling or supplying restricted parts

52Requirement for selling or supplying restricted part

Selling or supplying restricted ammunition

53Prohibition on selling or supplying restricted ammunition

Selling or supplying by mail order or online

54Requirements for selling arms item or ammunition by mail order or online

Requirements for importing arms items, air pistol carbine conversion kits, and ammunition

55Requirement for importing firearms, etc 56Requirement for importing restricted ammunition

Requirements for carrying on business activities

Carrying on business activities

57Persons carrying on business activity must be licensed

Requirements relating to possession of certain arms items for business activities

58Requirements relating to possession of restricted firearm, restricted magazine, pistol, pistol carbine conversion kit, or restricted weapon for business activities 59Requirements relating to possession of restricted part for business activities

Requirements for employees of licensed business assisting with business activities

60Requirement for employees of licensed business to hold firearms licence 61Employees of licensed business do not require endorsements

Requirements for possessing, displaying, and storing arms items in museums

Requirements for curators

62Curator who possesses, displays, and stores arms items must be licensed

Requirements for museum workers

63Requirement for museum workers possessing, displaying, and storing arms items to be licensed

Requirements for manufacturing arms items and air pistol carbine conversion kits

64Certain business licence holders may manufacture restricted items 65Requirements for manufacture of certain arms items by business licence holders 66Requirement for manufacture of certain arms items by firearms licence holders

Part 3:
Licences and approvals

Firearms licences

Applying for firearms licence

67Application for firearms licence 68Persons disqualified from holding firearms licence 69Fit and proper persons to hold firearms licence 70Issue of firearms licence 71Certain information to be provided to applicant if licence application not granted 72Disclosure of certain matters to applicant not required

Conditions of firearms licence

73Conditions of firearms licence: general 74Conditions of firearms licence: other 75Breach of conditions in sections 73 or 74

Duration of firearms licence

76Duration of firearms licence: general 77Extension of firearms licence for up to 3 years pending determination of application for new firearms licence 78Extension of firearms licence in other cases pending determination of application for new firearms licence

Reviews of firearms licensing decisions

79Application for review of firearms licensing decision 80Chief executive to refer application to Firearms Licensing Review Committee 81Outcome of review

Business licences

Applying for business licence

82Application for business licence 83Fit and proper person to hold business licence 84Issue of business licence 85Business licence issued for carrying on of business activities from 1 place of business 86Carrying on of business activities from other places of business permitted in certain circumstances 87Gun shows 88Hiring out firearms for use by bona fide theatre company, etc 89Business licence not transferable

Conditions of business licence

90Conditions of business licence: employees 91Conditions of business licence: secure storage requirements 92Conditions of business licence: production and inspection of arms item 93Conditions of business licence: other 94Breach of conditions in section 92 or 93

Duration and renewal of business licence

95Duration of business licence 96Extension of business licence pending determination of application for new business licence

Records

97Keeping records

Ceasing to carry on business activities

98Ceasing to carry on business activities

Curator licences

Applying for curator licence

99Application for curator licence 100Fit and proper person to hold curator licence 101Issue of curator licence 102Curator licence issued for possessing, displaying, and storing arms items in specified museum 103Curator licence not transferable

Conditions of curator licence

104Conditions of curator licence: production of arms item on demand 105Condition of curator licence: secure storage requirements 106Conditions of curator licence: other

Duration of curator licence

107Duration of curator licence 108Extension of curator licence pending determination of application for new curator licence

Records

109Keeping records

Ceasing to be curator

110Ceasing to be curator

Museum worker licences

Applying for museum worker licence

111Application for museum worker licence 112Issue of museum worker licence 113Museum worker licence not transferable

Conditions of museum worker licence

114Conditions of museum worker: general 115Conditions of museum worker licence: other 116Breach of conditions in sections 114 and 115

Duration of museum worker licence

117Duration of museum worker licence: general 118Extension of museum worker licence pending determination of application for new museum worker licence

Ceasing to be museum worker

119Licensed curator to notify chief executive when museum worker ceases work 120Museum worker to surrender licence on ceasing work

Visitor licences

Applying for visitor licence

121Application for visitor licence 122Persons disqualified from holding visitor licence 123Fit and proper persons to hold visitor licence 124Issue of visitor licence 125Chief executive to provide certain information to applicant if licence application not granted 126Disclosure of certain matters to applicant not required

Conditions of visitor licence

127Conditions of visitor licence: general 128Conditions of visitor licence: other 129Breach of conditions in sections 127 and 128

Duration of visitor licence

130Duration of visitor licence

Restrictions on visitor licence holders

131Visitors may not take ownership of firearm or restricted weapon

Obligations of licence holders

Production of licence

132Production of licence if required

Notifications

133Notification of change of address 134Notification if licence lost or stolen 135Notification of loss, theft, or destruction of arms items 136Notification of non-delivery of certain arms items 137Notification of removal of pistol, restricted firearm, restricted magazine, or restricted weapon out of New Zealand

Unsafe arms items

138Unsafe arms items

Expiry, surrender, suspension, and revocation of licences

Expiry and surrender of licences

139Surrender of licence 140Effect of expiry or surrender of firearms licence 141Effect of expiry or surrender of business licence 142Effect of expiry or surrender of curator licence 143Effect of expiry or surrender of museum worker licence 144Effect of expiry or surrender of visitor licence

Suspension of licences

145When licence may be suspended 146When licence must be suspended 147Effect of suspension of firearms licence 148Effect of suspension of business licence 149Effect of suspension of curator licence 150Effect of suspension of museum worker licence

Revocation of licences

151Revocation of firearms licence 152Revocation of business licence 153Revocation of curator licence 154Revocation of museum worker licence 155Revocation of visitor licence 156Revocation of suspended licence 157Effect of revocation of firearms licence 158Effect of revocation of business licence 159Effect of revocation of curator licence 160Effect of revocation of museum worker licence 161Effect of revocation of visitor licence

Disposal of arms items and ammunition after licence expires or is surrendered or revoked

162Disposal of arms items and ammunition after firearms licence expires or is surrendered or revoked 163Disposal of arms items and ammunition after business licence expires or is surrendered or revoked 164Disposal of arms items and ammunition after visitor licence expires or is surrendered or revoked

Offences relating to expiry, surrender, and revocation of licences

165Offence to fail to surrender licence when licence revoked 166Offence to fail to surrender records when business or curator licence revoked 167Offence to fail to deliver arms items and ammunition following expiry, surrender, suspension, or revocation of firearms licence or visitor licence 168Offence to carry on business activities after expiry, surrender, or revocation of business licence 169Offence for curator to possess, display, or store arms item following expiry, surrender, or revocation of licence 170Offence for museum worker to possess, display, or store arms item following expiry, surrender, or revocation of licence

Approved ammunition sellers

Applying for approval

171Application to be approved ammunition seller 172Chief executive may grant approval 173Disclosure of certain matters to applicant not required 174Approval granted for sale and supply from 1 place of business 175Approval not transferable

Duration of approval

176Duration of approval

Conditions of approval

177Conditions of approval 178Breach of conditions to which approval is subject

Obligations

179Approved ammunition seller to provide details of ammunition sales

Revocation of approval

180Revocation of approval

Improvement notices

181Improvement notices

Part 4:
Endorsements and permits

Endorsements

Applications for endorsements

182Applications for endorsements: general 183Applications for endorsements: applicants or holders of firearms licence, curator licence, or visitor licence 184Applications for endorsements: applicants or holders of business licence

Making endorsements

185Power to make endorsements

Conditions of endorsement

186Conditions of endorsement 187Further conditions of endorsement in respect of pistols, large-capacity pistol magazines, and restricted weapons 188Further conditions of endorsement in respect of restricted firearm or restricted magazine 189Additional condition of endorsement in respect of restricted firearm in possession of collectors, curators, employees of broadcaster or theatrical company, etc

Duration of endorsement

190Duration of endorsement

Revocation of endorsement

191Revocation of endorsement in respect of pistol, large-capacity pistol magazine, or restricted weapon 192Revocation of endorsement in respect of restricted firearm or restricted magazine

Permits to import

193Issue of permit to import firearms, etc 194Issue of permit to import pistol carbine conversion kits 195Issue of permit to import air pistol carbine conversion kits 196Permit to import issued for items to be brought into or sent to New Zealand in single consignment or multiple consignments 197Production of samples 198Export of specified items not corresponding with sample or otherwise approved for importation 199Permit to import not transferable 200Expiry of permit to import 201Revocation and validity of permit to import 202Notification of importation 203Seizure of illegally imported items

Permits to possess

204Permits to possess

Permits to possess pistols or restricted weapons

205Issue of permit to possess pistol or restricted weapon

Permit to possess pistol carbine conversion kit

206Issue of permit to possess pistol carbine conversion kit

Permit to possess restricted firearm or restricted magazine

207Issue of permit to possess restricted firearm or restricted magazine

Part 5:
Shooting clubs and shooting ranges

208Interpretation

Pistol shooting clubs

209Pistol shooting club must have certificate of approval 210Pistol shooting club must be incorporated society 211Application for certificate of approval in respect of pistol shooting club 212Chief executive may make inquiries and request further information 213Decision on application for certificate of approval 214Issue of certificate of approval 215Duration of certificate of approval 216Cancellation of certificate of approval 217Annual reports

Non-pistol shooting clubs

218Non-pistol shooting club must be enrolled 219Non-pistol shooting club must be incorporated society in certain circumstances 220Application for enrolment in respect of non-pistol shooting club 221Chief executive may make inquiries and request further information 222Confirmation of enrolment 223Chief executive to keep roll of non-pistol shooting clubs 224Cancellation of enrolment

Pistol shooting ranges

225Pistol shooting ranges must be certified 226Application for certification of pistol shooting range 227Chief executive may make inquiries and request further information 228Decision on application to have pistol shooting range certified 229Grant of certification 230Certification granted subject to condition 231Duration of certification 232Cancellation of certification 233Renewal of certification

Non-pistol shooting ranges

234Non-pistol shooting ranges that are not temporary non-pistol shooting ranges must be enrolled 235Temporary non-pistol shooting ranges must be notified to chief executive 236Application for enrolment of non-pistol shooting range 237Chief executive may make inquiries and request further information 238Decision on application to have non-pistol shooting range enrolled 239Confirmation of enrolment 240Chief executive to keep roll of non-pistol shooting ranges 241Cancellation of enrolment

Compliance

242Inspections of shooting clubs and shooting ranges 243Improvement notices 244Temporary suspension of pistol shooting club’s operations for non-compliance with improvement notice 245Temporary suspension of shooting range’s operations for non-compliance with improvement notice

Part 6:
Further offences and firearms prohibition orders

Offences relating to licences

246Providing false information in licence application 247Altering or misusing licence

Offences relating to carrying, possessing, or presenting arms items

248Occupier 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 249Person in possession of arms item or ammunition must give identifying information to Police 250Unlawfully carrying or possessing explosive 251Unlawfully carrying or possessing imitation firearms 252Unlawfully carrying or possessing restricted firearm, pistol, or restricted weapon in public place 253Unlawfully carrying or possessing standard firearm, airgun, ammunition, or explosive in public place 254Carrying pistol, restricted firearm, restricted magazine, or restricted weapon without authority 255Carrying restricted firearm with criminal intent 256Carrying standard firearm, airgun, pistol, imitation firearm, restricted weapon, ammunition, or explosive with criminal intent 257Presenting restricted firearm at another person 258Presenting pistol, restricted weapon, standard firearm, or airgun at another person

Offences relating to using arms items

259Discharging standard firearm, restricted firearm, pistol, restricted weapon, or airgun in or near dwellinghouse or public place 260Using, discharging, or carrying exempt standard firearms without reasonable excuse 261Carelessly using standard firearm, restricted firearm, pistol, restricted weapon, or airgun 262Using or attempting to use restricted firearm or pistol to resist or prevent arrest or commit offence 263Using or attempting to use standard firearm, etc, to resist or prevent arrest or commit offence

Offences relating to selling or supplying firearms, etc

264Purchasing arms items intending to unlawfully sell or supply 265Trafficking arms items or ammunition

Offences relating to manufacturing and assembling arms items

266Manufacturing arms items without authority 267Possessing digital blueprint to illegally manufacture arms item 268Possessing ammunition components intending to manufacture ammunition 269Assembling restricted firearm

Other offences

270Being in charge of standard firearm, restricted firearm, pistol, restricted weapon, or airgun while under influence of drink or drug 271Obstructing officer of Arms Regulator 272Reporting of injuries caused by standard firearms, restricted firearms, pistols, restricted weapons, airguns, or restricted airguns 273Records to be kept by animal and biosecurity controller in respect of location of restricted firearms shared under multi-user agreement

Infringement offences

274Interpretation 275Infringement offences 276When infringement notice may be issued 277Revocation of infringement notice before payment made 278What infringement notice must contain 279How infringement notice may be served 280Payment of infringement fees 281Reminder notices

Provisions relating to offences

282Time for prosecutions not limited 283Liability of principals and agents 284Offences committed by corporations 285Extraterritorial jurisdiction for offences against section 265, 266, 329, or 330 286Attorney-General’s consent required 287Protection of persons acting under authority of this Act

Firearms prohibition orders

288Interpretation 289When FPO may be made 290Effect of FPO 291Standard conditions of FPO 292Varying or modifying standard conditions of FPO 293Special conditions of FPO 294Commencement and duration of FPO 295Varying, modifying, or revoking FPOs 296Varying, modifying, or replacing FPO on subsequent conviction 297Appeal against decision to make or not make FPO is appeal against sentence 298Offence to breach firearms prohibition order 299Offence to supply firearms, etc, to person subject to firearms prohibition order

Part 7:
Administration

Arms Regulator

Firearms Licensing Review Committee

313Firearms Licensing Review Committee established 314Function of Firearms Licensing Review Committee 315Membership of Firearms Licensing Review Committee 316Matters relating to appointment of members by responsible Minister 317Firearms Licensing Review Committee to sit in panels 318Procedure of panels 319Immunity of members

Arms Advisory Group

320Arms Advisory Group continued 321Operations of advisory group 322Provisions relating to appointment of members of advisory group 323Removal of members of advisory group

Part 8:
Miscellaneous provisions

Identification marking of arms items

324Items requiring identification marking 325Identification markings by manufacturers and importers 326Identification markings by business licence holders 327Marking status of permanently deactivated firearm 328Possessing arms item lacking identification marking 329Falsifying identification markings 330Removing or altering identification markings

Delivery or surrender of arms items and ammunition

331Delivery or surrender of arms items and ammunition to licensed business 332Licensed business to notify and surrender certain items received 333Voluntary delivery to Arms Regulator or Police of arms items or ammunition 334Powers to require surrender of airguns or antique firearms 335Surrender of items declared restricted, etc

Seizure of arms items

336Seizure of items held by licensed business 337Restoration of articles seized 338Authorising disposal of firearms, etc, detained by Arms Regulator or Police 339Carriers and persons authorised to exercise powers of seizure

Forfeitures

340Forfeitures

Appeals

341Appeals to District Court 342Appeal in respect of compensation 343Appeal on question of law

Sharing of information

344Sharing of information between chief executive and Commissioner 345Sharing of information must be in accordance with agreement 346Publication of agreements

Arms registry

347Chief executive to keep arms registry 348Content of arms registry 349Obligation to provide information to arms registry 350Failing to provide information to Arms Regulator

Direct access by certain government agencies to arms registry

351Interpretation 352Relationship between sections 353 to 360 and other law 353Direct access to licence information 354Direct access to import and export information recorded in registry 355Direct access must be in accordance with direct access agreement 356Matters to which Ministers must have regard before entering into direct access agreement 357Consultation before entering into direct access agreement 358Content of direct access agreements 359Variation of direct access agreement 360Publication of direct access agreements

Medical assessments

361Health practitioners may give chief executive medical reports of persons unfit to use firearm

Orders in Council

362Regulations 363Order in Council relating to definitions of restricted firearm, restricted magazine, and restricted ammunition 364Declaring items to be restricted weapons or high-energy airguns

Cost recovery

365Purpose of sections 366 to 373 366Activities that may be subject to cost recovery 367Criteria for cost recovery 368Methods of cost recovery 369Payment of fee or charge 370Exemptions, waivers, and refunds 371Regulations relating to cost recovery 372Consultation 373Five-yearly review of cost recovery

Other miscellaneous provisions

374Priority applications by persons travelling overseas to participate in international activities 375Obligations of owner or operator of craft temporarily visiting New Zealand and carrying arms items 376Service of documents

Review of operation of this Act

377Review of this Act

Repeal, revocations, and consequential amendments

378Repeal 379Revocations 380Consequential amendments

Schedule 1:
Transitional, savings, and related provisions

Schedule 2:
Consequential amendments to other legislation

Summary of changes

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 - Offences relating to carrying, possessing, or presenting arms items

252: Unlawfully carrying or possessing restricted firearm, pistol, or restricted weapon in public place

You could also call this:

"Carrying a restricted firearm in public without a good reason is against the law"

You could be in trouble if you carry or have a restricted firearm, pistol, or restricted weapon in a public place without a good reason. If you do this, you might go to prison for up to 7 years. This would happen if you are found guilty of the offence.

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=LMS1533991.

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

Topics:

Crime and justice > Police and safetyCrime and justice > Criminal law

251: Unlawfully carrying or possessing imitation firearms, or

"Carrying a fake gun without a good reason is against the law"

253: Unlawfully carrying or possessing standard firearm, airgun, ammunition, or explosive in public place, or

"Carrying guns or explosives in public without a good reason is against the law"

Part 6Further offences and firearms prohibition orders
Offences relating to carrying, possessing, or presenting arms items

252Unlawfully carrying or possessing restricted firearm, pistol, or restricted weapon in public place

A person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years if the person, without lawful purpose, carries or possesses in a public place—
a restricted firearm; or
a pistol; or
a restricted weapon.