Arms Act 1983

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Version as at 21 May 2022

Arms Act 1983

Public Act		1983 No 44
Date of assent		29 November 1983
Commencement		see section 1(2)

Note

The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.

This Act is administered by the New Zealand Police.

	Title [Repealed]
1	Short Title and commencement
	Part 1 Preliminary provisions
1A	Purposes of this Act
2	Interpretation
2A	Meaning of prohibited firearm
2B	Meaning of prohibited magazine
2C	Meaning of prohibited part
2D	Meaning of prohibited ammunition
3	Act to bind the Crown
3A	Transitional, savings, and related provisions
4	Power to declare weapons to be restricted weapons or specially dangerous airguns
4A	Persons who may apply to import, manufacture, sell, supply, possess, or use prohibited items
	Part 2 Licensed dealers
	Licensed dealers [Repealed]
5	Dealers to be licensed
5A	Application for dealer’s licence
5B	Issue of dealer’s licence
5C	On-site theatrical armourers to supervise firearms use in certain cases
6	Fit and proper person to hold dealer’s licence
6A	Conditions of dealer’s licence
6B	Special condition of dealer’s licence relating to manufacture of firearms, etc
6C	Breach of conditions to which dealer’s licence is subject
7	Place of business
7A	Gun shows
8	Duration of dealer’s licence
8A	Renewal of dealer’s licence
8B	Surrender of dealer’s licence
8C	Effect of expiry or surrender of dealer’s licence
9	Revocation of dealer’s licence
9A	Revocation of suspended dealer’s licence
9B	Effect of revocation of dealer’s licence
10	Restriction on possession of prohibited firearms, prohibited magazines, pistols, restricted weapons, and pistol carbine conversion kits
11	Employees of licensed dealer to hold firearms licence bearing appropriate endorsements
12	Record of dealings by licensed dealers
13	Seizure of items held by licensed dealer
14	Disposal of items of dealer if licence expires or is surrendered or revoked
15	Offence to carry on dealer activities following expiry, surrender, or revocation of dealer’s licence
	Part 3 Permits to import
	Importation of firearms and ammunition [Repealed]
16	Offence to import firearms, etc, without permit
16A	Offence to import prohibited ammunition
17	Burden of proof [Repealed]
18	Issue of permit to import firearms, etc
18AA	Issue of permit to import pistol carbine conversion kits
18AAB	Issue of permit to import air pistol carbine conversion kits
18AAC	Revocation and validity of permit to import
18AAD	Permit to import issued for items to be brought or sent into New Zealand in single consignment or multiple consignments
18A	Expiry of permits to import
18B	Production of samples
18C	Export of specified items not corresponding with sample or otherwise approved for importation
19	Seizure of illegally imported items
	Part 4 General restrictions
	General restrictions on possession of firearms, airguns, magazines, parts, and ammunition
19A	Restriction on possession of prohibited firearms and prohibited magazines
19B	Restriction on possession of prohibited parts
19C	Restriction on possession of pistols and restricted weapons
	General restrictions on possession of firearms and airguns [Repealed]
20	Restriction on possession of non-prohibited firearms
21	Restrictions on possession of airguns
22	Exemptions
22A	Restriction on possession of non-prohibited magazines and non-prohibited parts
22B	Restriction on possession of ammunition
	Restrictions on possession of pistol carbine conversion kits
22C	Restrictions on possession of pistol carbine conversion kits
	Restrictions on sale or supply of ammunition
22D	Restrictions on selling or supplying ammunition
22E	Ammunition seller to keep record of ammunition sales
	Restriction on ownership of firearms and restricted weapons by visitors
22F	Visitors may not take ownership of firearm or restricted weapon
	Restriction on manufacture of prohibited items
22G	Restriction on manufacture of prohibited items
22H	Persons disqualified from holding firearms licence
	Part 5 Firearms licences, endorsements, and permits to possess
	Firearms licences
23	Application for firearms licence
24	Issue of firearms licence
24A	Fit and proper person to possess firearm or airgun
24B	General conditions of firearms licence
24C	Special condition of firearms licence relating to sale or supply of ammunition
24D	Breach of conditions to which firearms licence is subject
25	Duration of firearms licence
26	Production of firearms licence
27	Surrender and revocation of firearms licence
27A	Family violence and firearms licences [Repealed]
27B	Revocation and surrender of licence if holder becomes disqualified
27C	Revocation of suspended firearms licence
28	Effect of revocation or surrender of firearms licence
	Endorsements
29	Application for endorsements in respect of pistol or restricted weapon
30	Power to make endorsement in respect of pistols or restricted weapons
30A	Application for endorsement in respect of prohibited firearm or prohibited magazine
30B	Power to make endorsement in respect of prohibited firearm or prohibited magazine
31	Possession of firearm, pistol, prohibited item, or restricted weapon for stage, film, or television purposes
31A	Conditions of endorsements
32	Further conditions of endorsements in respect of pistols and restricted weapons
33	Revocation of endorsements
33A	Further conditions of endorsement in respect of prohibited firearm or prohibited magazine
33B	Revocation of endorsement in respect of prohibited firearm or prohibited magazine
33C	Duration of endorsements
34	Notification of change of address
	Photographs
34A	Power to require or take photographs of applicants
34B	Effect of non-compliance with requirements in relation to photographs or to calling-in of licences
	Permits to possess pistols, restricted weapons, prohibited firearms, prohibited magazines, and pistol carbine conversion kits
35	Issue of permit to possess pistol or restricted weapon
35AAA	Issue of permit to possess pistol carbine conversion kit
35A	Issue of permit to possess prohibited firearm or prohibited magazine
36	Offence to carry pistol, prohibited firearm, prohibited magazine, or restricted weapon without authority
37	Surrender of restricted weapon
38	Removal of pistol, prohibited firearm, prohibited magazine, or restricted weapon out of New Zealand
	Miscellaneous obligations [Repealed]
39	Loss, theft, or destruction [Repealed]
40	Person in possession of firearm, etc, must give identifying information to Police [Repealed]
41	Powers of Police to require surrender of airguns or antique firearms [Repealed]
41A	Marking of firearms
	Part 8 Offences
	Offences [Repealed]
42	Offences in respect of licences
43	Selling or supplying firearm or airgun to unlicensed person
43AA	Selling or supplying prohibited ammunition
43A	Mail order or Internet sale of arms items or ammunition
43B	Restriction on sales of ammunition [Repealed]
44	Selling or supplying pistol or restricted weapon to person who does not hold permit to import or permit to possess
44AA	Unlawful sale or supply of pistol carbine conversion kit
44A	Offence to sell or supply prohibited firearm or prohibited magazine
44B	Offence to sell or supply prohibited part
45	Carrying or possessing firearms, etc, except for lawful, proper, and sufficient purpose
46	Carrying of imitation firearm, except for lawful, proper, and sufficient purpose
47	Being in charge of firearm, airgun, pistol, or restricted weapon while under the influence of drink or drug
48	Discharging firearm, airgun, pistol, or restricted weapon in or near dwellinghouse or public place
49	Using, discharging, or carrying certain firearms except for some lawful, proper, or sufficient purpose
49A	Unlawful possession of firearm, prohibited magazine, prohibited part, or airgun after revocation of firearms licence
50	Unlawful possession of pistol or restricted weapon
50AA	Unlawful possession of pistol carbine conversion kit
50A	Unlawful possession of prohibited firearm
50B	Unlawful possession of prohibited magazine
50C	Unlawful possession of prohibited part
50CA	Unlawful possession of prohibited ammunition
50D	Unlawfully carrying or possessing prohibited firearm in public place
51	Unlawful carriage or possession in public place of firearm, airgun, pistol, ammunition, explosive, or restricted weapon
51A	Presenting prohibited firearm at other person
52	Presenting firearm, airgun, pistol, or restricted weapon at other person
53	Careless use of firearm, airgun, pistol, or restricted weapon
53A	Use or attempted use of prohibited firearm to resist or prevent arrest or commit offence
54	Use or attempted use of airgun, etc, to resist or prevent arrest or commit offence
54A	Carrying prohibited firearm with criminal intent
55	Carrying firearm, etc, with criminal intent
55A	Offence to assemble prohibited firearm
55B	Offence of failing to produce prohibited firearm, etc, on demand or to permit inspection of prohibited firearm, etc
55C	Offence of failing to produce firearm other than pistol, restricted weapon, or prohibited firearm on demand or to permit inspection of firearm
55D	Offences relating to illegal manufacturing of certain arms items
55E	Offences relating to illegal trafficking of firearms, parts, or ammunition
55F	Offences relating to falsifying firearm markings
55G	Offences relating to removing or altering firearm markings
55H	Extraterritorial jurisdiction for offences against section 55D, 55E, 55F, or 55G
55I	Attorney-General’s consent required
56	Obstruction of member of Police
57	Offences committed by corporations
58	Reporting of injuries caused by firearms, airguns, pistols, or restricted weapons
59	Unsafe firearms or pistols
	Part 9 Miscellaneous provisions
	Surrender or delivery of firearms, etc
59A	Surrender by licensed dealer of firearms, etc
59B	Voluntary delivery to Police of firearms, etc
60	Improvement notices
60A	Temporary suspension of licence pending possible revocation
60B	Effect of temporary suspension of firearms licence
60C	Effect of temporary suspension of dealer’s licence
	Search and seizure of firearms [Repealed]
60	Search of suspected persons and seizure of firearms, airguns, pistols, imitation firearms, restricted weapons, ammunition, or explosives [Repealed]
60A	Search of suspected persons and seizure of firearms in cases of domestic violence [Repealed]
61	Search of land or buildings for firearms, airguns, pistols, imitation firearms, restricted weapons, ammunition, or explosives [Repealed]
	Appeals
62	Right of review of official decisions
62A	How review to be conducted
62B	Right of appeal to District Court
62C	Further provisions relating to appeals
63	Appeal to District Court Judge in respect of compensation
64	Appeal on a question of law
	Restoration of articles seized
65	Restoration of articles seized
	Foreign personal protection officers [Repealed]
65A	Interpretation [Repealed]
65B	Power to authorise foreign personal protection officer to carry and have possession of firearms, etc [Repealed]
65C	Power to permit temporary importation of firearms, etc, by foreign personal protection officer [Repealed]
65D	Grounds for issue of written authority or written permit [Repealed]
65E	Conditions of written authority or written permit [Repealed]
65F	Inspections [Repealed]
65G	Power to revoke [Repealed]
65H	Expiry of sections 65A to 65G
	Other miscellaneous provisions
65I	Duration of licences extended because of COVID-19 outbreak [Repealed]
66	Occupier of premises or driver of vehicle deemed to be in possession of firearm, airgun, pistol, imitation firearm, restricted weapon, prohibited magazine, or explosive found therein
66A	Loss, theft, or destruction of firearm, etc
66B	Person in possession of firearm, etc, must give identifying information to Police
66C	Powers of Police to require surrender of airguns or antique firearms
66D	Obligations of owner or operator of craft temporarily visiting New Zealand and carrying firearms, etc
67	Liability of principal for acts of agent, etc
68	Time for prosecutions not limited
69	Forfeitures
70	Authorising disposal of firearms, etc, detained by Police
71	Protection of persons acting under authority of this Act
72	Delegation of powers by Commissioner
72A	Service of documents
73	Savings in respect of carriers and persons authorised to exercise powers of seizure
74	Regulations
74A	Order in Council relating to definitions of prohibited firearm and prohibited magazine, and declaring prohibited ammunition
74B	Orders under section 74A are confirmable instruments [Repealed]
74C	Regulations providing for transitional matters relating to Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Act 2019 [Repealed]
74D	Regulations providing for transitional matters relating to Arms Legislation Act 2020
75	Consequential amendment to Summary Proceedings Act 1957
76	Consequential amendments to Trespass Act 1980
77	Repeals [Repealed]
78	Transitional provisions
	Cost recovery
79	Purpose of sections 80 to 86
80	Activities that may be subject to cost recovery
81	Criteria for cost recovery
82	Consultation
83	Methods of cost recovery
84	Payment of fee or charge
85	Exemptions, waivers, and refunds
86	Regulations relating to cost recovery
	Guidance notices
87	Guidance notices
	Arms Advisory Group
88	Arms Advisory Group
89	Operations of advisory group
90	Provisions relating to appointment of members of advisory group
91	Removal of members of advisory group
	Medical assessments
92	Health practitioners may give Police medical reports of persons unfit to use firearm
	Review of operation of this Act
96	Review of this Act
	Schedule 1 Transitional, savings, and related provisions
	Arms Amendment Act 1992
	Notes

Title [Repealed]

Title: repealed, on 25 June 2020, by section 4 of the Arms Legislation Act 2020 (2020 No 23).

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Arms Act 1983

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