New Zealand Acts

ARMS ACT 1983 - SECT 24

24 Issue of firearms licence

1 Subject to subsection (2), a firearms licence must be issued by a member of the Police to an applicant if the member of the Police is satisfied that—

a) the applicant—

i) is of or over the age of 16 years; and

ii) is a fit and proper person to be in possession of a firearm or an airgun; and

b) either—

i) the applicant’s storage facilities for their firearms and ammunition have been inspected by a member of the Police and are compliant with the requirements for the secure storage of firearms and ammunition; or

ii) if the applicant is a visitor, a member of the Police is satisfied with the arrangements made by the applicant for the storage of the firearms and ammunition they will possess while in New Zealand.

2 A firearms licence must not be issued to an applicant if, in the opinion of a commissioned officer of Police, access to any firearm or an airgun in possession of the applicant is reasonably likely to be obtained by any person who—

a) is disqualified from holding a firearms licence; or

b) has had their firearms licence revoked on the ground that they are not a fit and proper person to be in possession of a firearm or an airgun; or

c) is not a fit and proper person to be in possession of a firearm or an airgun.

3 As soon as is reasonably practicable after issuing a firearms licence to a person, a member of the Police must notify the person’s health practitioner that a firearms licence has been issued to the person.

4 Subsection (3) does not apply to an applicant who is a visitor.

History: Section 24: replaced, on 24 December 2020, by section 41 of the Arms Legislation Act 2020 (2020 No 23).