Apply for a consent to import

What is an offensive weapon

Offensive weapons include knuckledusters, disguised weapons, switchblades, bayonets and certain types of knives into New Zealand.

Offensive weapons are defined in:

Customs Import Prohibition (Offensive Weapons) Order 2021 – Schedule 2, Offensive weapons prohibited from importation | New Zealand Legislation website

What is consent to import

You need to apply for consent to import to offensive weapons.

Who can apply

Anyone can apply for consent to import offensive weapons – you do not need a firearms licence.

How much it costs

There is no fee for consent to import.

When to apply

You must apply for a consent to import before your items arrive in New Zealand – otherwise they may be seized or detained by New Zealand Customs or New Zealand Police.

Applications can take 5-6 weeks to process.

How long does a consent to import last

You must import the items into New Zealand within 12 months of receiving the consent, or within the timeframe specified by the Commissioner.

The consent to import expires for further items 30 days after the first item enters New Zealand.
If you have not used the consent to import within that 12 month period, you will need to apply for a new consent. Consents to import do not renew.

Your consent to import may be revoked at any time by a commissioned officer of Police. If your consent is revoked, you will be notified in writing and you will no longer be able to use it.

Information you must provide

In your application, you must include:

your details – including identification information such as your firearms licence number
details about what you want to import – including weblinks to the place of purchase
the reason why you believe you should be able to import the item into New Zealand.

If you import more than one item

You may need to apply for more than one consent to import if you are importing multiple items – it depends on when they enter New Zealand.

One consent to import covers items that will enter New Zealand either:

at the same time and in a single consignment, or
in more than one consignment, but within a 30-day period between the arrival of the first and last consignments.

How to apply

Step 1: Complete the form

You can either:

download the PDF (to edit, you must have a PDF reader installed: Download and install Adobe Reader free)
print the PDF and complete it by hand.

Application form for consent to import prohibited offensive weapons (FRM67OW) (pdf 78.48 KB)

Step 2: Submit your application

By email: permitfirearms@police.govt.nz
By post: Permit Team, Te Tari Pūreke, PO Box 722, Paraparaumu, Kapiti 5032
In person to a Police station: Find Police stations | New Zealand Police website

Once you’ve submitted your application, we'll get back to you via email. Check your junk or spam folder in case responses have gone there.

After you apply

Your application will be approved or refused

If approved, your consent will be sent to you.

If refused, you’ll be notified in writing, including the reasons your application was refused.

If your application includes items that don’t need a permit, we'll also let you know.

You have the right to appeal to the District Court if you are not satisfied with the decision. You must appeal within 20 working days of the refusal decision (unless the court gives special leave to extend that time).

If you do not apply for consent before the items arrive in New Zealand

It’s an offence to import items without an approved permit or consent to import. If you do not have a consent to import or you have not declared and/or labelled you items correctly, New Zealand Customs or New Zealand Police can detain or seize items on arrival.

If your item is detained, contact: permitfirearms@police.govt.nz

If your item is seized, contact New Zealand Customs