Te Tari Pūreke | Firearms Safety Authority New Zealand

Firearms licence

Find out how to apply or reapply for a New Zealand firearms licence. You need a firearms licence to possess and use non-prohibited firearms, ammunition and specially dangerous airguns without supervision.

Firearms Registry

New Zealand’s Firearms Registry will hold details about all licence holders and their arms items. Find out when you’re required to provide information, how to register, and how to get help if you need it.

Firearms safety courses

First-time firearms licence applicants must attend and pass a firearms safety course. Find out what you need to do and how to book.

Health and wellbeing

Mental health and wellbeing of firearms licence holders

Information for health practitioners

When a firearms licence holder dies

Transport and storage

Storage and transportation of firearms and ammunition

Travelling overseas with firearms

Popular resources

Hunter safety

Firearms Safety Code

Disposal of firearms and arms items

Concerned with someone's firearms use? In an emergency always call 111

Simpler, smarter, safer

New Zealand’s firearms laws have been updated and modernised.

As part of these changes, day-to-day responsibility for the firearms regulatory system is shifting to an independent regulator – Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand (FSE). NZ Police continue to focus on criminal law enforcement.

Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand will be focused on:
•    encouraging a culture of community safety;
•    enabling legitimate possession and use;
•    ensuring compliance through education and enforcement; and
•    providing simpler, smarter services for firearms licence holders.

To support this shift, the new regulator plans to introduce a Dedicated Arms System. This includes improved digital tools for registration, case management, and licensing — making the process more accurate, more efficient, and easier for legitimate firearms users.

What the 2026 changes mean for you