New Zealand Acts

ARMS ACT 1983 - SECT 2A

2A Meaning of prohibited firearm

1 In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,
"prohibited firearm" —

a) means any of the following firearms:

i) a semi-automatic firearm, other than—

A) a specified semi-automatic firearm:

B) a semi-automatic shotgun with a non-detachable tubular magazine or magazines that are capable of holding no more than 5 cartridges commensurate with that firearm’s chamber size:

C) a small semi-automatic pistol:

D) a semi-automatic pistol (not being a small semi-automatic pistol) in the possession or under the control of a person referred to in subsection (3):

ii) a pump-action shotgun that is capable of being used with a detachable magazine:

iii) a pump-action shotgun that has a non-detachable tubular magazine or magazines that are capable of holding more than 5 cartridges commensurate with that firearm’s chamber size:

iv) a centrefire pump-action rifle that is capable of being used with a detachable magazine:

v) a centrefire pump-action rifle that has 1 or more non-detachable magazines (tubular or otherwise) that are capable of holding more than 10 cartridges commensurate with that firearm’s chamber size; and

b) includes any other firearm declared by Order in Council made under section 74A to be a prohibited firearm for the purposes of this Act.

2 In subsection (1)(a)(i)(A),
"specified semi-automatic firearm" means a semi-automatic firearm—

a) that is capable of firing only 0.22 calibre or lower rimfire cartridges; and

b) that has a magazine, whether or not detachable or otherwise externally fed, that is capable of holding no more than 10 cartridges commensurate with the firearm’s chamber size; and

c) that does not have a lower receiver that is able to be attached to a centrefire upper receiver so as to result in a firearm that is able to function.

3 For the purposes of subsection (1)(a)(i)(D), the person is a person who—

a) has a firearms licence that bears an endorsement made under section 30 permitting the holder to possess the semi-automatic pistol in the capacity referred to in section 29(2)(b), (c), (d), or (e) ; and

b) has been issued with a permit to import the pistol (under section 18 ) or a permit to possess the pistol (under section 35 ).

History: Section 2A: replaced, on 25 June 2020, by section 7 of the Arms Legislation Act 2020 (2020 No 23).