There is no exhaustive list of health conditions that may be relevant to the safe possession and use of firearms.

Of particular concern is whether the health condition is developing or manifesting itself (or is likely to) in such a way that, in the interests of individual or public safety, you:

• should not continue to possess firearms 
• should not continue to possess firearms for a specified period until the health condition or disability no longer impacts on your fit and proper status 
• should only possess firearms on certain conditions.

Examples of the sorts of health conditions or disabilities that you should discuss with your health practitioner include:  

• mental health issues of any kind, including depression, stress, anxiety, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, or psychosis, especially if they are poorly controlled or escalating in severity  
• development of suicidal thoughts or feelings 
• serious head injury or neurological conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Multi System Atrophy 
• seizures, dizziness, blackouts 
• alcohol or other drug misuse or dependence to the extent it affects your judgement or behaviour 
• decline in functioning of memory, thinking, understanding, and judgement 
• exhibiting or reporting behaviour suggesting anger or violence (including previous or current family harm) 
• drowsiness or problems with cognition, secondary to a health condition or medication 
• any physical condition that would make handling firearms unsafe, for example, visual or hearing impairment, poor mobility, increased risk of falls. 

This list is designed to emphasise the wide spectrum of medical conditions and health states that may impact significantly on your suitability to possess firearms. It's not exhaustive, and you should consider notifying us and your health practitioner about any concerns you might have.

It's a good idea to make arrangements for the disposal or safe-keeping of your firearms in the event of physical or mental illness or injury.

You might also want to update your will to include instructions regarding your firearms.

Note: There are specific legal actions triggered following the death of a firearms licence holder. See:

When a licence holder dies

You may consider having an agreement with another firearms licence holder that they can remove the firearms from your safe if you are incapacitated. They will need to know the code to your safe or where you securely store your keys.

Make sure other household members are aware of this contingency plan.

Storage and transportation of firearms and ammunition

At any point you may store your firearm with another firearms licence holder. You will need to provide information for the Firearms Registry about the transfer of possession. 

When to update information in the Registry

When a firearm changes hands

You could also consider surrendering your firearms and arms items.

If your symptoms impact your ability to safely possess or use firearms, you should consider surrendering your firearms and arms items.

You can surrender firearms to:

• a current New Zealand firearms licence holder, or
• a licensed firearms dealer, or
• New Zealand Police.

Surrendering an arms item or ammunition

You could also consider surrendering your firearms licence.

If you have concerns about your health and do not feel fit and proper to safely possess or use firearms, you may want to consider surrendering your firearms licence. Once your health condition has improved, you may apply for a firearms licence again at any point.

You may surrender (give up and hand in) your firearms licence to Police or Te Tari Pūreke at any time. This relates to Sections 27 and 28 of the Arms Act 1983.

Arms Act 1983 No 44 (as at 24 June 2023), Public Act 27 Surrender and revocation of firearms licence | New Zealand Legislation

Arms Act 1983 No 44 (as at 24 June 2023), Public Act 28 Effect of revocation or surrender of firearms licence | New Zealand Legislation

To surrender your licence: 

• phone 0800 844 431 (04 499 2870)  
• phone the non-emergency Police number 105 
• visit your local Police station. 

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. 

Using a firearm under supervision without a licence

You could consider temporarily storing your firearms with another licence holder or surrendering them.

Disposal of illegally held or unwanted firearms

You will need to provide information for the Firearms Registry about the transfer.

When to update information in the Registry

• imposing firearms licence conditions 
• asking you to provide a medical assessment for the affected person
• asking you to surrender your firearms licence under Section 27(1) of the Arms Act 1983
• suspending your firearms licence pending possible revocation, under Section 60A of the Arms Act 1983.

Arms Act 1983 No 44 (as at 24 June 2023), Public Act 27 Surrender and revocation of firearms licence | New Zealand Legislation or;

Arms Act 1983 No 44 (as at 24 June 2023), Public Act 60A Temporary suspension of licence pending possible revocation | New Zealand Legislation

Your firearms licence may be suspended as a result of notification of concern for your physical or mental health, due to information that Te Tari Pūreke or the wider Police receive in another way. 

If Police attend an incident relating to mental health, they may seize the firearms licence and/or firearms for safekeeping until Te Tari Pūreke have reviewed the incident and made a decision around the licence. 

As the firearms licence holder, you may be asked to provide a medical assessment, and your licence may be suspended, pending possible revocation.   

If Te Tari Pūreke suspends your firearms licence pending possible revocation, this is a step taken out of concern for your safety or the safety of others.

It's important to note that if your firearms licence is suspended, you are not licensed to possess firearms.

We will notify you if your firearms licence is suspended, and you will have time to gather information to submit for consideration for your licence to be retained before a decision is made about revocation. Te Tari Pūreke will provide you with further information about the process.

If Te Tari Pūreke revokes your firearms licence, there will be a 5-year stand-down period before you can reapply for a firearms licence, as specified in section 23(1)(b) of the Arms Act 1983:

Arms Act 1983 No 44 (as at 24 June 2023), Public Act 23 Application for firearms licence | New Zealand Legislation

You cannot possess firearms, even under supervision, if your licence has been revoked.