The Amendment Act introduces some new offences and the penalties for many existing offences have changed. In most cases the penalties on conviction have been increased.
Below is a list of the offences under the Arms Act that are now in force. The hyperlinks go to the relevant sections of the Arms Act to assist with details around the offences and penalties.
When further parts of the Act come into force in future we will update this page.
Sections setting out the offences and penalties
|
Arms Act |
Section title |
imprisonment |
a fine not exceeding |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Dealers to be licensed |
--- |
$1,000 |
|
|
Effect of expiry or surrender of dealer’s licence |
6 months |
$10,000 |
|
|
Effect of revocation of dealer’s licence |
6 months |
$10,000 |
|
|
Restriction on possession of prohibited firearms, prohibited magazines, pistols, restricted weapons, or pistol carbine conversion kits |
6 months |
$10,000 |
|
|
Employee of licensed dealer to hold firearms licence bearing appropriate endorsements |
--- |
$10,000 |
|
|
Record of dealings by licensed dealers |
--- |
$500 |
|
|
Offence to carrying on dealer activities following expiry, surrender, or revocation of dealer’s licence |
1 year |
$15,000 |
|
|
Offence to import firearms, etc, without permit |
|||
|
16(3) – related to firearms etc |
1 year |
$15,000 |
|
|
16(4) – related to prohibited items and prohibited ammunition |
5 years |
--- |
|
|
Offence to import prohibited ammunition |
5 years |
--- |
|
|
Restriction on possession of non-prohibited firearms |
1 year |
$15,000 |
|
|
Restriction on possession of airguns |
--- |
$1,000 |
|
|
Production of firearms licence |
--- |
$500 |
|
|
Effect of revocation or surrender of firearms licence |
6 months |
$10,000 |
|
|
Notification of change of address |
--- |
$2,000 |
|
|
Offence to carry pistol, prohibited firearm, prohibited magazine, or restricted weapon without authority |
6 months |
$10,000 |
|
|
Removal of pistol, prohibited firearm, prohibited magazine, or restricted weapon out of New Zealand |
--- |
$2,000 |
|
|
Offences in respect of licences |
2 years |
$20,000 |
|
|
Selling or supplying a firearmor airgun to unlicensed person |
2 years |
$20,000 |
|
|
Selling or supplying prohibited ammunition |
2 years |
--- |
|
|
Mail order or Internet sale of arms items or ammunition |
6 months |
$10,000 |
|
|
Restriction on sales of ammunition |
--- |
$1,000 |
|
|
Selling or supplying pistol or restricted weapon to person who does not hold permit to import or permit to possess |
3 years |
$30,000 |
|
|
Unlawful sale or supply of pistol carbine conversion kit |
3 years |
$30,000 |
|
|
Offence to sell or supply prohibited firearm or prohibited magazine |
5 years |
--- |
|
|
Offence to sell or supply prohibited part |
2 years |
--- |
|
|
Carrying or possessing firearms, etc, except for lawful, proper, and sufficient purpose |
4 years |
$5,000 |
|
|
Carrying of imitation firearm, except for lawful, proper, and sufficient purpose |
1 year |
$4,000 |
|
|
Being in charge of firearm, airgun, pistol, or restricted weapon while under the influence of drink or drug |
3 months |
$3,000 |
|
|
Discharging firearm, airgun, pistol, or restricted weapon in or near dwellinghouse or public place |
6 months |
$10,000 |
|
|
Using, discharging, or carrying certain firearms except for some lawful, proper, or sufficient purpose |
3 months |
$1,000 |
|
|
Unlawful possession of firearm, prohibited magazine, prohibited part, or airgun after revocation of firearms licence |
1 year |
$4,000 |
|
|
Unlawful possession of pistol or restricted weapon |
3 years |
$4,000 |
|
|
Unlawful possession of pistol carbine conversion kit |
3 years |
$4,000 |
|
|
Unlawful possession of prohibited firearm |
5 years |
--- |
|
|
Unlawful possession of prohibited magazine |
2 years |
--- |
|
|
Unlawful possession of prohibited part |
2 years |
--- |
|
|
Unlawful possession of prohibited ammunition |
2 years |
--- |
|
|
Unlawfully carrying or possessing prohibited firearm in public place |
5 years |
--- |
|
|
Unlawful carriage or possession in public place of firearm, airgun, pistol, ammunition, explosive, or restricted weapon |
3 years |
$4,000 |
|
|
Presenting prohibited firearm at other person |
7 years |
--- |
|
|
Presenting firearm, airgun, pistol, or restricted weapon at other person |
|||
|
52(1) – related to presenting a firearm etc |
6 months |
$10,000 |
|
|
52(2) – related to presenting anything a person may believe is a firearm etc |
6 months |
$10,000 |
|
|
Careless use of firearm, airgun, pistol, or restricted weapon |
|||
|
53(1) – related to causing injury or death by careless use |
3 years |
$4,000 |
|
|
53(2) – related to leaving a loaded firearm etc in any place so as to endanger the life of others |
3 years |
$4,000 |
|
|
53(3) – related to discharging a firearm etc with reckless disregard to safety of others |
3 years |
$4,000 |
|
|
Use or attempted use of prohibited firearm to resist or prevent arrest or commit offence |
|||
|
53A(1) – related to resisting arrest |
10 years |
--- |
|
|
53A(2) – related to possessing a prohibited firearm while committing an offence |
5 years |
--- |
|
|
Use or attempted use of airgun, etc, to resist or prevent arrest or commit offence |
--- |
||
|
54(1) – related to resisting arrest |
7 years |
||
|
54(2) – related to possessing firearms etc while committing an offence |
5 years |
||
|
Carrying prohibited firearm with criminal intent |
7 years |
--- |
|
|
Carrying firearm, etc, with criminal intent |
5 years |
--- |
|
|
Offence to assemble prohibited firearm |
5 years |
--- |
|
|
Offence of failing to produce prohibited firearm, etc, on demand or to permit inspection of prohibited firearm, etc |
6 months |
$10,000 |
|
|
Offence of failing to produce firearm other than pistol, restricted weapon, or prohibited firearm on demand or to permit inspection of firearm |
--- |
$10,000 |
|
|
Offences relating to illegal manufacturing of certain arms items |
10 years |
--- |
|
|
Offences relating to illegal trafficking of firearms, parts, or ammunition |
10 years |
--- |
|
|
Offences relating to falsifying firearm markings |
10 years |
--- |
|
|
Offences relating to removing or altering firearm markings |
3 years |
--- |
|
|
Obstruction of member of Police |
3 months |
$1,000 |
|
|
Offences committed by corporations |
--- |
$4,000 |
|
|
Reporting of injuries caused by firearms, airguns, pistols, or restricted weapons |
3 months |
$1,000 |
|
|
Unsafe firearms or pistols |
6 months |
$10,000 |
|
|
Loss, theft, or destruction of firearm, etc |
--- |
$10,000 |
|
|
Person in possession of firearm, etc, must give identifying information to Police |
6 months |
$10,000 |
|
|
Powers of Police to require surrender of airguns or antique firearms |
6 months |
$10,000 |
|
Need help? |
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Find your local Firearms Office |