Firearms, restricted weapons, blank-firing guns and ammunition
- Document symbol
- G/LIC/N/3/NZL/12
- Original language
- English
- Published on
- 23/10/2025
Outline of Systems
Q1. Give a brief description of each licensing system as a whole and, with respect to each, reply to the following questions as relevant, placing all of the material with respect to a given system in sequence together, and using cross references as appropriate when elements which have already been described are also present in another system.
A permit to import is required under section 16 of the Arms Act 1983 to import the following items:
- Firearms, including specially dangerous airguns (pre-charged pneumatic air rifles), pistols and prohibited firearms (most centrefire semi-automatic rifles and shotguns with detachable or large capacity magazines are prohibited firearms)
- Restricted weapons
- Firearm parts
- Prohibited magazines
- Blank-firing guns and parts thereof
- Restricted airguns (airguns that look like pistols, restricted weapons or prohibited firearms)
- Ammunition, including prohibited ammunition
- Pistol carbine conversion kits
- Air pistol carbine conversion kits
Collectively, these items will be referred to as “arms items” for the purpose of this document.
Permits to import are issued by Te Tari Pūreke – Firearms Safety Authority (FSA). Te Tari Pūreke – Firearms Safety Authority is a business unit of New Zealand Police (Police).
Import applications for pistols, restricted weapons, parts of pistols or restricted weapons, prohibited firearms, prohibited magazines, prohibited parts, restricted airguns, and prohibited ammunition require the applicant to provide a special reason as to why their item should be allowed into New Zealand. A permit may be issued if Police are satisfied that there is a special reason.
Import applications for all other items require a reason to be provided.
Purposes and Coverage of Licensing
Q2. Identify each licensing system maintained and state what products, appropriately grouped, are covered.
The permitting regime applies to:
- Firearms, including specially dangerous airguns, pistols and prohibited firearms
- Restricted weapons as listed in the Arms (Restricted Weapons and Specially Dangerous Airguns) Order 1984
- Firearm parts
- Prohibited magazines
- Blank-firing guns and parts thereof
- Restricted airguns (airguns that look like pistols, restricted weapons or prohibited firearms)
- Ammunition, including prohibited ammunition
- Pistol carbine conversion kits
- Air pistol carbine conversion kits
Q3. The system applies to goods originating in and coming from which countries?
The system applies to goods originating in and coming from all countries.
Q4. Is the licensing intended to restrict the quantity or value of imports, and if not, what are its purposes? Have alternative methods of accomplishing the purposes been considered and if so which? Why have they not been adopted?
The purpose of the Arms Act 1983 is to promote the safe use and control of firearms and impose controls on the possession and use of firearms and other weapons. The purpose reflects the principles that the possession and use of arms items is a privilege, and that persons authorised to import arms items have a responsibility to act in the interests of personal and public safety.
Importers must apply for a permit to import before they can bring an arms item into New Zealand. This control point provides a mechanism for the flow of certain arms items to be controlled when required and ensure that the recipient can lawfully possess the arms item in New Zealand.
The domestic transfer of pistols, restricted weapons and prohibited items that required a special reason for importation are also subsequently controlled through the domestic permit to possess process, should the original importer chose to on-sell at a later date.
Q5. Cite the law, regulation and/or administrative order under which the licensing is maintained. Is the licensing statutorily required? Does the legislation leave designation of products to be subjected to licensing to administrative discretion? Is it possible for the government (or the executive branch) to abolish the system without legislative approval?
The requirements regarding import applications and issuing of permit to import are in the Arms Act 1983 and Arms Regulations 1992. The following legislations further describe arms items that require a permit to import - Arms (Restricted Weapons and Specially Dangerous Airguns) Order 1984, Arms (Prohibited Ammunition) Order 2019 and Arms (Prohibited Magazines) Order 2019.
Certain Crown agencies and organisations, including New Zealand Defence and Police are exempt from the licensing regime and may import firearms etc. for the purposes of that organisation (section 3, Arms Act 1983).
Legislative approval would be required to amend any of the above legislations.
Procedures
Q6. For products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports (whether applicable globally or to a limited number of countries or whether established bilaterally or unilaterally):
Q6.I. Is information published, and where, concerning allocation of quotas and formalities of filing applications for licences? If not, how is it brought to the attention of possible importers? Of governments and export promotion bodies of exporting countries and their trade representatives? Is the overall amount published? The amount allocated to goods from each country? The maximum amount allocated to each importer? How to request any exceptions or derogations from the licensing requirement?
Q6.II. How is the size of the quotas determined: on a yearly, six-monthly or quarterly basis? Are there cases where the size of quota is determined on a yearly basis but licences are issued for imports on a six-monthly or quarterly basis? In the latter case, is it necessary for importers to apply for fresh licence on a six-monthly or quarterly basis?
Q6.III. Are licences allotted for certain goods partly or only to domestic producers of like goods? What steps are taken to ensure that licences allocated are actually used for imports? Are unused allocations added to quotas for a succeeding period? Are the names of importers to whom licences have been allocated made known to governments and export promotion bodies of exporting countries upon request? If not, for what reason? (Indicate products to which replies relate.)
Q6.IV. From the time of announcing the opening of quotas, as indicated in I above, what is the period of time allowed for the submission of applications for licences?
Q6.V. What are the minimum and maximum lengths of time for processing applications?
Q6.VI. How much time remains, at a minimum, between the granting of licences and the date of opening of the period of importation?
Q6.VII. Is consideration of licence applications effected by a single administrative organ? Or must the application be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval? If so, which? Does the importer have to approach more than one administrative organ?
Q6.VIII. If the demand for licences cannot be fully satisfied, on what basis is the allocation to applicants made? First come, first served? Past performance? Is there a maximum amount to be allocated per applicant and, if so, on what basis is it determined? What provision is made for new importers? Are applications examined simultaneously or on receipt?
Q6.IX. In the case of bilateral quotas or export restraint arrangements where export permits are issued by exporting countries, are import licences also required? If so, are licences issued automatically?
Q6.X. In cases where imports are allowed on the basis of export permits only, how is the importing country informed of the effect given by the exporting countries to the understanding between the two countries?
Q6.XI. Are there products for which licences are issued on condition that goods should be exported and not sold in the domestic market?
Q7. Where there is no quantitative limit on importation of a product or on imports from a particular country:
Q7.a. How far in advance of importation must application for a licence be made? Can licences be obtained within a shorter time-limit or for goods arriving at the port without a licence (for example, owing to inadvertency)?
A permit to import is required before the item is caused to be brought or brought into New Zealand. It is an offence to do so without a permit to import.
Te Tari Pūreke – Firearms Safety Authority recommends the importer applies at least 5 or 6 weeks in advance.
If an arms item arrives without a permit to import, it is detained by New Zealand Customs and the importer may apply for a retrospective permit to import. However, an application does not guarantee that the permit will be issued. There are only exceptional circumstances in which a retrospective permit would be issued and each case is considered on its individual merits.
Q7.b. Can a licence be granted immediately on request?
Te Tari Pūreke recommends the importer applies at least 5 or 6 weeks in advance.
A request may be made for the permit to be issued immediately or sooner, however this is not guaranteed.
Q7.c. Are there any limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence and/or importation may be made? If so, explain.
Q7.d. Is consideration of licence applications effected by a single administrative organ? Or must the application be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval? If so, which? Does the importer have to approach more than one administrative organ?
Te Tari Pūreke – Firearms Safety Authority (a business unit of New Zealand Police) manages the firearms import permit regime (see above). If the permit to import is issued, the importer is responsible for presenting the permit to New Zealand Customs so that their goods can be released.
Q8. Under what circumstances may an application for a licence be refused other than failure to meet the ordinary criteria? Are the reasons for any refusal given to the applicant? Have applicants a right of appeal in the event of refusal to issue a licence and, if so, to what bodies and under what procedures?
An application for a permit to import arms items that require a special reason may be refused at the discretion of Police. A refusal is subject to judicial review.
In the case of all other arms items, the application for a permit to import must be issued if Police is satisfied that the applicant is lawfully able to possess the item, and, if a sample of the item has been required for examination and testing, the applicant has lawfully provided a sample and the item is approved by Police. In extreme circumstances, these other arms items could be refused for import however this would be rare.
Eligibility of Importers to Apply for Licence
Q9. Are all persons, firms and institutions eligible to apply for licences: (If not, is there a system of registration of persons or firms permitted to engage in importation? What persons or firms are eligible? Is there a registration fee? Is there a published list of authorized importers?) a) under restrictive licensing systems? b) under non-restrictive systems?
Yes, anyone may submit an application, however only the holder of a firearms licence or dealers licence may be issued a permit to import as most of the arms items require a licence for lawful possession within New Zealand.
Only the holder of a firearms licence or dealers licence with an endorsement allowing them to possess pistols, restricted weapons or prohibited item may be issued a permit to import such items.
Any person may apply to import a blank-firing gun, however the age of the person would be taken into consideration.
A person who is 16 or 17 with a firearms licence, or any person 18 or older may apply to import an air pistol carbine conversion kit or restricted airgun. These are the age restrictions for lawful possession of these items in New Zealand.
Documentational and Other Requirements for Application for Licence
Q10. What information is required in applications? Submit a sample form. What documents is the importer required to supply with the application?
The applicant is required to complete the application form and provide information as detailed on the Te Tari Pūreke website - Permits to import | Firearms Safety Authority New Zealand
Q11. What documents are required upon actual importation?
The importer is required to present their permit to the New Zealand Customs Service.
Q12. Is there any licensing fee or administrative charge? If so, what is the amount of the fee or charge?
There is currently no charge.
Q13. Is there any deposit or advance payment requirement associated with the issue of licences? If so, state the amount or rate, whether it is refundable, the period of retention and the purpose of the requirement.
None.
Conditions of Licensing
Q14. What is the period of validity of a licence? Can the validity of a licence be extended? How?
Permits to import are valid for one year from date of issue but apply to a single consignment or multiple consignments provided the second and later consignments arrive within a 30 day period of the first consignment.
Q15. Is there any penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence?
No, although the permit is now limited to a single consignment or multiple consignments, second and later consignments are allowed to arrive within 30 days of the first consignment.
Q16. Are licences transferable between importers? If so, are any limitations or conditions attached to such transfer?
The permit to import is personal to the person it is issued to and is not transferable.
A dealer may import an arms item as an agent for an individual, however both the dealer and individual would be listed on the permit and the permit cannot be transferred to any other individual.
Q17. Are any other conditions attached to the issue of a licence? a) for products subject to quantitative restriction? b) for products not subject to quantitative restriction?
Under Regulation 28D of the Arms Regulations 1992, conditions may be placed on the permit to import. Some conditions are standard, such as the condition to notify of the importation under Regulation 13 of the Arms Regulations 1992.
Bespoke conditions could be prescribed for a variety of reasons and depends on the individual case. For example, surrender of a worn part where the special reason relates to replacing a worn part of a prohibited firearm, or the provision of a sample if the item had not previously been imported into New Zealand and requires examination and classification.
Other Procedural Requirements
Q18. Are there any other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative procedures, required prior to importation?
No.