I am coming into NZ and want to bring my firearms with me/go hunting. What do I need to do?

You need to obtain a visitor’s firearms licence and an import permit for any firearms you wish to bring.

You can complete a Visitors Firearms Licence and Permit to Import Application online.

If you intend to hunt regularly in New Zealand you may wish to apply for a Standard New Zealand Firearms Licence (valid for 10 years). You would have to be in New Zealand for the duration of the vetting process (allow 6 weeks).

Please ensure your firearms are of the type approved for import into New Zealand before you arrive here. If your firearms are not on this list of approved firearms, please email the Firearms Unit with the make and model. If you bring an unapproved firearm into New Zealand it will be sent to the New Zealand Police Armoury (at your expense), where application will either be approved or declined. If your application is declined, police will retain your firearm until you leave New Zealand.