You must have a current New Zealand firearms licence and any required endorsement and permit to legally possess most arms items or ammunition.
Arms items include firearms, magazines, parts, airguns, pistols, restricted weapons and pistol carbine conversion kits (PCCKs).
You do not need a firearms licence to possess an airgun if you are aged 18 or over, unless it is classified as a specially dangerous airgun.
The Arms Act 1983 explains the restrictions on possession of airguns.
If you have a firearm, other arms item or ammunition you cannot legally possess or do not wish to possess, you can do the following:
For detailed guidance on how to transfer or dispose of a firearm (whether you’re a licence holder yourself or not), and to understand who needs to do what in terms of firearms registration, download the guidance document below.
You may surrender (give up and hand in) your firearms licence to Police or Te Tari Pūreke at any time.
To surrender your licence:
On surrender of your licence, you are no longer licensed to possess arms items or ammunition.
If you have firearms in your possession, you must transfer them to another firearms licence holder, or surrender them to Police.
This relates to Sections 27 and 28 of the Arms Act 1983.
You can surrender a firearm, other arms item or ammunition to a licensed firearms dealer under the Voluntary Surrender provisions of section 59A of the Arms Act 1983.
If you decide to transfer an arms item to a dealer, contact them first to schedule an appointment.
The dealer will guide you through the process and provide specific instructions. If it is a non-prohibited firearm, they may on-sell the item, use it for parts or destroy it, depending on its condition.
If the item is an arms item that you need an endorsement to possess, then the dealer must hand the item on to Police within 5 working days of receiving it. Police will then decide how the item is dealt with or otherwise disposed of.
Note: Firearms dealers have no obligation to receive arms items. If a dealer declines to take possession of an item, and you cannot find a firearms licence holder who is willing to take possession, you must surrender the item to Police.
You can arrange for the uplift and delivery of a firearm, other arms item or ammunition that you’re not authorised to possess to Police. You can arrange this with either with New Zealand Police staff, another licensed firearms holder, or a licensed firearms dealer.
This applies, for example, if you find a firearm in a deceased person’s estate, or there is no licence holder to arrange transfer to. You can be asked to provide details about how you acquired the arms item.
You can choose to deliver the item anonymously or give your name and contact information. Before transporting any items to Police, you must let them know in advance and arrange a time for safe and proper transfer.
We ask anyone planning to surrender firearms to visit their local Police station to notify us in person—without bringing the firearms. This initial visit allows us to coordinate a safe and secure process for the surrender.
Note: Please do not turn up to a Police station with a firearm unannounced - please book a date and time for the secure transfer. It’s also important you make sure a firearm is unloaded, with the bolt removed (if possible), the magazine removed (if it is detachable), a trigger or cable lock applied and/or in a locked case or bag. Ammunition should be transported separately from the firearm. If possible, use a chamber safety flag to indicate that the firearm is not loaded.
Storage and transportation of firearms and ammunition
Police will not pay for or provide any compensation for firearms, other arms items or ammunition that are surrendered.
If you are gifted or inherit a firearm, other arms item or ammunition that you wish to keep, you can only do so once you have a firearms licence and any required endorsements and permit. Until then, the item must be held by a firearms licence holder or licensed firearms dealer with the required endorsements and permit.
Antique firearms do not need to be registered. A firearms licence is not required to possess an antique firearm.
Under the Arms Act 1983, an antique firearm is any firearm that:
If the firearm meets the above conditions and you wish to keep it, you can do so. However, if you would like to dispose of an antique firearm, you need to follow the process for the disposal of unwanted firearms and other arms items.
Arms Act 1983, section 2 - Definition of an antique firearm | New Zealand Legislation website
If you inherit or find something that appears to be a firearm and you’re unsure what it might be or what classification it is, please contact Te Tari Pūreke or Police in the first instance. We can help identify the arms item and what you might need to do with it.
Contact us:
Ordnance and explosives are items such as munitions used by the military, gelignite used in agriculture and earthworks, detonators and railway or maritime flares. The possession of these types of items are generally either prohibited or require special licenses and qualifications to possess and use.
If you find or have ordnance or explosives do not touch them. Leave the immediate area and call 111.
If you have or find what you think could be dangerous material — such as old, unexploded military grenades, bombs, artillery shells, mortars round or land mines do not touch or move these items under any circumstances – call the Police.
If you have or find an item that you believe may be explosive such as gelignite, detonators, or other potentially dangerous materials. Under no circumstances should you attempt to touch or move the item – call the Police.
Railway and maritime flares can pose a significant danger, especially if they are expired, damaged, or improperly stored. If you are concerned about a flare that is expired or damaged do not touch or move the item – call the Police.
Important: It is an offence to fire a flare without proper cause. Flares should only be used in emergency situations.
Explosive items and materials are disposed of by the New Zealand Defence Forces’ Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Squadron. The squadron is contacted by Police when you report your item to Police. It is better that you call in a false alarm than potentially have one of these devices explode and cause harm.
When you report an item to the Police, ensure you have the following information:
Police will contact the New Zealand Defence Force, and their Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team will be assigned to safely assess, remove, or dispose of any hazardous items if necessary.
If you find any potential unexploded ordnance, do not move, or touch the item in any way call 111.
Do not touch or move the military ordnance or other explosives in the first instance.
Te Tari Pūreke Firearms Safety Authority does not manage incidents involving the disposal of military ordnance or other explosives. These matters are solely the responsibility of the Police.
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