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Arms Bill

Further offences and firearms prohibition orders - Offences relating to using arms items

260: Using, discharging, or carrying exempt standard firearms without reasonable excuse

You could also call this:

"Using a special gun without a good reason can get you in trouble"

If you use, discharge, or carry an exempt standard firearm without a good reason, you can get in trouble. You might go to prison for up to 3 months or have to pay a fine of up to $1,000. If you are accused of this offence, you will have to prove that you had a lawful purpose for using, discharging, or carrying the firearm.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1534001.

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

Topics:

Crime and justice > Police and safety

259: Discharging standard firearm, restricted firearm, pistol, restricted weapon, or airgun in or near dwellinghouse or public place, or

"Shooting guns near homes or in public can get you in trouble"

261: Carelessly using standard firearm, restricted firearm, pistol, restricted weapon, or airgun, or

"Using a gun carelessly and putting people's lives at risk"

Part 6Further offences and firearms prohibition orders
Offences relating to using arms items

260Using, discharging, or carrying exempt standard firearms without reasonable excuse

A person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to a fine not exceeding $1,000, if the person, without lawful purpose, uses, discharges, or carries anywhere an exempt standard firearm.
In any prosecution for an offence against subsection (1) in which it is proved that the defendant used, discharged, or carried a firearm of a kind described in that subsection, the burden of proving the existence of a lawful purpose lies on the defendant.