Certificates for secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers

You need a certificate if:

  • you work for a licensed secondhand dealer and enter into transactions on their behalf
  • you work for a licensed pawnbroker and issue pledge tickets on their behalf
  • you manage, supervise or control a person who works for, and enters into transactions on behalf of, a licensed secondhand dealer or issues pledge tickets on behalf of a licensed pawnbroker.

If you are an individual with a licence, you are also regarded as holding a certificate.

To apply for a certificate or to find out more information visit the website of the Licensing Authority of Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers [Ministry of Justice website].

The Licensing Authority of Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers will make whatever inquiries are necessary to determine whether you are disqualified from holding a certificate. Your criminal history will be checked.

Police can object to any application on the basis that the applicant is "not a fit and proper person" to hold a certificate.

Offences

You will be committing an offence if, without holding a certificate, you knowingly:

  • enter into a transaction on behalf of a licensed secondhand dealer
  • issue a pledge ticket on behalf of a licensed pawnbroker
  • manage, supervise or control a person who enters into a transaction or issues pledge tickets on behalf of a licence holder.

This offence carries a fine of up to $10,000. A licence holder also commits an offence in those circumstances. He or she would be liable for a fine of up to $10,000.

The grant of a certificate

The Licensing Authority must issue you a certificate unless:

  • you are automatically disqualified (and you have not been granted a waiver)
  • it upholds a Police objection against you
  • you failed to comply with one of the requirements for the application, such as you did not pay the prescribed application fee.

More about disqualifications and waivers.

Refusal to issue a certificate

If your application for a certificate is refused, the Licensing Authority will notify you in writing and give reasons for the refusal.

Requirements for certificate holders

As a certificate holder you must meet the requirements below.

Showing certificate to Police

As a certificate holder engaged in secondhand dealing or pawnbroking you must, when requested to do so by a member of Police, show that person your certificate.

It is an offence to fail, without reasonable excuse, to comply with a Police officer's request to see your certificate. This offence carries, on conviction, a fine of up to $2,000.

Updating information on certificate

You must tell the Licensing Authority if any of the details you supplied when applying for a certificate have changed. You are obliged to tell the Licensing Authority of any and all changes to the application details during the time you hold a certificate.

You will be committing an offence if you fail, without reasonable excuse, to notify the Licensing Authority of those changes. If convicted of such an offence you will be liable to a fine of up to $2,000.

Amended certificate

When you advise the Licensing Authority of any changes to the original details, the Licensing Authority will issue you with an amended certificate. If you receive an amended certificate, you must immediately return the old certificate to the Licensing Authority.

It is an offence to fail, without reasonable excuse, to immediately return an old certificate to the Licensing Authority. You could be fined up to $2,000 if you are convicted of this offence.