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Arms Bill

Repeal, revocations, and consequential amendments

Schedule 1: Transitional, savings, and related provisions

You could also call this:

"How the new Arms law works with the old law"

The Arms Bill is a proposed new law. You need to know how it will affect you if it becomes law. This part of the bill is about how the new law will work with the old law. It explains what happens to licences and permits that were issued under the old law. You will still be able to use your firearms licence if it was issued under the old law. But you might need to apply for a new type of licence or endorsement under the new law. The new law also talks about what happens to applications that were made under the old law but not finished yet. There are rules about how to deal with ammunition sellers, shooting clubs, and shooting ranges. The police will keep a registry of firearms, and you might need to provide information for the registry. The government can make regulations to help with the transition to the new law. Some things will stay the same, like proceedings that were started under the old law. But some things will change, like the rules for manufacturing certain items. You should check the new law to see how it affects you.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1534156.

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

Topics:

Crime and justice > Police and safetyHousing and property > Home safety and repairs

380: Consequential amendments, or

"Changes to other laws to match the new Arms Bill"

Schedule 2: Consequential amendments to other legislation, or

"Changes to other laws if the Arms Bill is passed"

1Transitional, savings, and related provisions Empowered by s 12

1Provisions relating to Act as enacted

1Interpretation

In this Part,—
1983 Act means the Arms Act 1983
commencement date means the date on which this Part comes into force.

1Licensing

Firearms licences

2Application for firearms licence made but not determined before commencement date

This clause applies to an application made under section 23 of the 1983 Act for the issue of a firearms licence that—
was made before the commencement date; but
was not determined before the commencement date.

The application is to be determined under this Act as if the application had been made under section 67.

3Firearms licence issued before commencement date

A firearms licence issued under section 24 of the 1983 Act that has not expired or been surrendered or revoked is to be treated as a firearms licence issued under section 70.
Any conditions that the licence is subject to continue to apply as if the conditions had been imposed under this Act.
The firearms licence expires on the date specified in the licence.
Nothing in subclause (3) limits any provision of this Act that authorises the suspension or revocation of a firearms licence.

4Licence to possess blank-firing gun

A person who possessed a blank-firing gun before the commencement date may continue to possess the blank-firing gun on and after the commencement date without having to comply with the requirement in section 16.

5Review of decision to refuse application for firearms licence or revoke firearms licence

This clause applies to an application that—
was made under section 62 of the 1983 Act for the review of a decision to refuse an application for, or to revoke, a firearms licence; and
was made but not determined before the commencement date.

The application is to be determined under this Act as if the application had—
been made under section 79 to the chief executive for a review of the decision; and
been made within the period specified in section 79(2); and
been accompanied by any prescribed fee.

Dealers’ licences

6Application for dealer’s licence made but not determined before commencement date

This clause applies to an application made under section 5A of the 1983 Act for the issue of a dealer’s licence that—
was made before the commencement date; but
was not determined before the commencement date.

The application is to be determined under this Act as if the application had been made under—
section 82 for a business licence if the application was made to carry on a dealer activity described in section 5(1)(a), (b), (c), (e), or (f) of the 1983 Act:
section 99 for a curator licence if the application was made to carry on a dealer activity described in section 5(1)(d) of the 1983 Act.

7Dealer’s licence issued before commencement date

A dealer’s licence issued under section 5B of the 1983 Act that has not expired or been surrendered or revoked is to be treated as—
a business licence issued under section 84 if the person is carrying on a business activity:
a curator licence issued under section 101 if the person is a curator of a museum.

Any conditions that the licence is subject to continue to apply as if the conditions had been imposed under this Act.
The business licence or curator licence expires on the date specified in the licence.
Nothing in subclause (3) limits any provision of this Act that authorises the suspension or revocation of a business licence or curator licence.

Visitor licences

8Application by visitor for firearms licence made but not determined before commencement date

This clause applies to an application made under section 23 of the 1983 Act for the issue of a firearms licence that—
was made by a visitor before the commencement date; but
was not determined before the commencement date.

The application is to be determined under this Act as if the application had been made under section 121.

9Firearms licence issued to visitor before commencement date

A firearms licence issued to a visitor under section 24 of the 1983 Act that has not expired or been surrendered or revoked is to be treated as a visitor licence issued under section 124 for 1 visit to New Zealand.
Any conditions that the licence is subject to continue to apply as if the conditions had been imposed under this Act.
The licence expires on the date specified in the licence.
Nothing in subclause (3) limits any provision of this Act that authorises the suspension or revocation of a visitor licence.

2Ammunition sellers

10Person selling or supplying ammunition

This clause applies to a firearms licence holder who—
sold or supplied ammunition before the commencement date; and
continues to sell or supply ammunition on and after the commencement date; and
does not hold, or is not treated as holding, a business licence.

The firearms licence holder must apply under section 171 to be an approved ammunition seller.
An application must be made within 12 months after the commencement date.
If an application is made within that 12-month period, the person is to be treated, from the time the chief executive receives the application until the application has been determined, as if the person had been granted an approval under section 172.

3Endorsements and permits

Endorsements

11Application for endorsement made but not determined before commencement date

Subclause (2) applies to an application under section 29 of the 1983 Act for an endorsement on a licence in respect of a pistol or restricted weapon that—
was made before the commencement date; but
was not determined before the commencement date.

The application is to be determined under this Act as if the application had been made under section 183 or 184.
Subclause (4) applies to an application under section 30A of the 1983 Act for an endorsement on a licence in respect of a prohibited firearm or prohibited magazine that—
was made before the commencement date; but
was not determined before the commencement date.

The application is to be determined under this Act as if the application had been made under section 183 or 184 for an endorsement on a licence in respect of a restricted firearm or restricted magazine.

12Endorsement made before commencement date

An endorsement on a licence made under section 30 or 30B of the 1983 Act that has not expired or been revoked is to be treated as an endorsement on a licence made under section 185.
Any conditions that apply to the endorsement are replaced by the conditions set out in sections 186 to 189.
The endorsement continues in force for the period specified in section 190.
Nothing in subclause (3) limits any provision of this Act that authorises the revocation of an endorsement.

13Endorsement for large-capacity pistol magazines

A licence holder who possessed a large-capacity pistol magazine before the commencement date and who continues to possess the large-capacity pistol magazine on and after the commencement date must apply under section 183 or 184 for an endorsement on their licence permitting them to possess a large-capacity pistol magazine.
An application must be made within 12 months after the commencement date (the transition period).
The licence holder is treated as if their licence had been endorsed permitting them to possess a large-capacity pistol magazine—
during the transition period; and
after the transition period until the determination of the application, if an application has been made but not determined before the close of the transition period.

Permits to import

14Application for permit to import made but not determined before commencement date

Subclause (2) applies to an application made under the 1983 Act for a permit to import an item that—
was made before the commencement date; but
was not determined before the commencement date.

The application is to be determined under this Act as if the application had been made under section 193.

15Permit to import issued before commencement date

A permit to import issued under section 18, 18AA, or 18AAB of the 1983 Act that has not expired or been revoked is to be treated as a permit to import issued under section 193, 194, or 195.
The permit to import continues in force for the period specified in section 200.
Nothing in subclause (2) limits any provision of this Act that authorises the revocation of a permit to import.

Permits to possesss

16Application for permit to possess made but not determined before commencement date

Subclause (2) applies to an application made under the 1983 Act for a permit to possess an item that—
was made before the commencement date; but
was not determined before the commencement date.

The application is to be determined under this Act as if the application had been made under section 204.

17Permit to import issued before commencement date

A permit to possess issued under section 35, 35AAA, or 35A of the 1983 Act that has not expired or been revoked is to be treated as a permit to possess issued under section 205, 206, or 207.
The permit to possess continues in force for the period specified in the permit.
Nothing in subclause (2) limits any provision of this Act that authorises the revocation of a permit to possess.

4Shooting clubs and shooting ranges

Shooting clubs

18Application for certification of pistol shooting club made but not determined before commencement date

This clause applies to an application under section 38D of the 1983 Act for a certificate of approval in respect of a pistol shooting club that—
was made before the commencement date; but
was not determined before the commencement date.

The application is to be determined under this Act as if the application had been made to the chief executive under section 211.

19Certificate of approval of pistol shooting club issued before commencement date

A certificate of approval issued to a pistol shooting club under section 38G of the 1983 Act that has not been surrendered or cancelled is to be treated as a certificate of approval issued under section 214.
Any conditions that the certificate of approval is subject to continue to apply as if the conditions had been imposed under this Act.
Nothing in subclause (2) limits any provision of this Act that authorises the cancellation of the certificate of approval.

20Application for enrolment of non-pistol shooting club made but not determined before commencement date

This clause applies to an application under section 38M of the 1983 Act for enrolment in respect of a non-pistol shooting club that—
was made before the commencement date; but
was not determined before the commencement date.

The application is to be determined under this Act as if the application had been made to the chief executive under section 220.

21Enrolment of non-pistol shooting club before commencement date

An enrolment of a non-pistol shooting club under section 38O of the 1983 Act that has not been cancelled is to be treated as an enrolment under section 222.
Nothing in subclause (1) limits any provision of this Act that authorises the cancellation of the enrolment.

Shooting ranges

22Application for certification of pistol shooting range made but not determined before commencement date

This clause applies to an application under section 38S of the 1983 Act for certification of a pistol shooting range that—
was made before the commencement date; but
was not determined before the commencement date.

The application is to be determined under this Act as if the application had been made to the chief executive under section 226.

23Certification of pistol shooting range issued before commencement date

A certification issued in respect of a pistol shooting range under section 38V of the 1983 Act that has not been surrendered or cancelled is to be treated as a certification in respect of a pistol shooting range issued under section 229.
Any conditions that the certification is subject to continue to apply as if the conditions had been imposed under this Act.
Nothing in subclause (2) limits any provision of this Act that authorises the cancellation of the certification.

24Application for enrolment of non-pistol shooting range made but not determined before commencement date

This clause applies to an application under section 38XE of the 1983 Act for enrolment in respect of a non-pistol shooting range that—
was made before the commencement date; but
was not determined before the commencement date.

The application is to be determined under this Act as if the application had been made to the chief executive under section 236.

25Enrolment of non-pistol shooting club before commencement date

A non-pistol shooting range enrolled under section 38XH of the 1983 Act that has not been cancelled is to be treated as an enrolment under section 239.
Nothing in subclause (1) limits any provision of this Act that authorises the cancellation of the enrolment.

5Manufacture of certain items

26Manufacturing of firearms, etc, commenced but not completed before commencement date

This clause applies if, before the commencement date, the holder of a dealer’s licence—
has obtained under section 6B of the 1983 Act the Commissioner’s approval to manufacture pistols, restricted weapons, pistol carbine conversion kits, or air pistol carbine conversion kits; and
has commenced, but not completed, the manufacture of the pistols, restricted weapons, pistol carbine conversion kits, or air pistol carbine conversion kits.

Section 65(2)(b) does not apply to the licence holder.

6Arms registry

27Obligations relating to registry

A requirement under section 95(3) of the 1983 Act (to provide to the Police details for the registry in accordance with the requirements of the Arms Regulations 1992) that applies to a person before the commencement date applies to the person on and after the commencement date as a requirement under section 349(3) of this Act (to provide to the chief executive details for the registry in accordance with any prescribed requirements).
A firearms licence holder in respect of whom no requirement under section 95(3) of the 1983 Act applies before the commencement date and in respect of whom no requirement under section 349(3) of this Act applies before 24 June 2028 must provide to the chief executive no later than 31 August 2028 such information as may be prescribed.
A business licence holder or curator licence holder in respect of whom no requirement under section 95(3) of the 1983 Act applies before the commencement date (in their capacity as the holder of a dealer’s licence) and in respect of whom no requirement applies under section 349(3) of this Act before 1 January 2029 must provide to the chief executive no later than 24 June 2029 such information as may be prescribed.

7General

28Matters, inquiries, processes, etc, not affected by transfer of Commissioner functions

If, before the commencement date, the Commissioner commences, but does not complete, a matter, inquiry, or process in relation to the Commissioner’s functions under the 1983 Act, the chief executive must complete the matter, inquiry, or process that the Commissioner commenced.
If, immediately before the commencement date, any notice given by the Commissioner in relation to the Commissioner’s functions under the 1983 Act is in force, the notice is to be treated as a notice given by the chief executive.

29Proceedings

Any proceedings commenced before the District Court under section 62B or 63 of the 1983 Act before the commencement date, but not completed by that date, must be continued and completed as if this Act had not been enacted.
Proceedings may be commenced in the District Court under section 341 or 342 in respect of an action that occurred before the commencement date.

30Regulations for transitional and savings purposes

The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the responsible Minister, make regulations prescribing transitional or savings provisions for the purpose of facilitating or ensuring the orderliness of the transition to this Act from the 1983 Act.
The Minister may not recommend the making of regulations under this clause unless satisfied that the regulations—
are reasonably necessary for the purpose in subclause (1); and
are consistent with the purposes of this Act.

The transitional or savings provisions prescribed by regulations made under subclause (1) may be provisions in addition to or instead of all other provisions of this schedule, and may—
provide that, for a transitional period, in any circumstances, or subject to any conditions, specified in the regulations, 1 or more provisions (including definitions) of this Act do not apply, or apply with modifications or additions:
provide that, for a transitional period, in any circumstances, or subject to any conditions, specified in the regulations, 1 or more provisions repealed or revoked by this Act are to continue to apply, or apply with modifications or additions, as if they had not been repealed or revoked:
provide for any other matter that is reasonably necessary for the purpose in subclause (1).

No regulations may be made, or continue in force, later than 2 years after the commencement date.
Regulations under this clause are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).

Notes