Firearms Registry requirements apply from 24 June 2023
Shooting clubs will need an individual firearms licence holder to register club firearms under their individual account in the Firearms Registry. This could be split between multiple people, but if one of these people resigns from the club, the arms items must be transferred to another member of the club with a firearms licence and any required endorsements.
Find out what the Firearms Registry means for you
A shooting club must be approved by Police before it operates. It’s an offence to operate a shooting club that is not approved.
Download the Shooting Club Guide
The guide includes a section about ‘Seeking and being granted approval’.
What is a shooting club?
A shooting club is a voluntary association of people who act according to a set of written rules and take part (or intend to take part) in shooting activities on a regular basis.
In this context, shooting activities means using a firearm to shoot at targets that are not living, whether those targets are fixed or moving. Paintball shooting and airsoft shooting are not included in shooting activities.
Any defence area that is used by a shooting club for shooting activities is also a shooting range that must be certified by Te Tari Pūreke.
Who must apply for approval?
Clubs that were operating at 24 June 2022 may continue to operate but must apply for approval before 24 June 2023. Once the application is made, the club can continue to operate until Police makes a decision on the application. If its application is declined, it must immediately stop operating.
Clubs that were not operating at 24 June 2022 must not start operating until the club:
- applies for approval
- Police grant that approval and issue the club with a certificate of approval.
Pistol clubs that were recognised by Police at 24 June 2022 may continue to operate and do not need to apply for approval.
Complete the application form
Save the form to your computer before you start.
Application for approval of a shooting club form (FRM38DCA) (PDF, 288 KB)
Collect your supporting documents before you apply
Pistol clubs – supporting documents:
Pistol clubs must provide:
- evidence the person applying is authorised by the club to make the application on its behalf, such as a letter or a copy of the minutes from the meeting that authorised them
- a copy of the club’s constitution or rules
- a copy of minutes from the club’s last annual general meeting, or inaugural meeting if there has been no annual general meeting
- names of all club members
- the firearms licence numbers of all members who have one
- ID number from the NZ Incorporated Societies Register
- description of the process for recording club member and visitor participation in shooting activities organised by the club.
Other clubs – supporting documents:
Non-pistol clubs must provide:
- evidence the person applying is authorised by the club to make the application on its behalf, such as a letter or a copy of the minutes from the meeting that authorised them
- a copy of the club’s constitution or rules
- a copy of minutes from the club’s last annual general meeting, or inaugural meeting if there has been no annual general meeting.
If ammunition or firearms are sold or supplied on behalf of the club, you must also provide:
- an approved financial report with sufficient detail to reconcile all firearms and ammunition purchased, held, sold, or supplied by the club
- evidence that the revenue will be used for the benefit of the club
- ID number from the NZ Incorporated Societies Register – if the club is selling firearms or ammunition, it must be an incorporated society.
If you need to register as an incorporated society, visit:
How to submit your application electronically
Upload your application form and supporting documents to the secure Police portal.
You’ll need to scan the form and have electronic copies of your supporting information to upload.
Documents must be JPG, JPEG, PNG or PDF file types. Each file must not be more than 5MB.
Shooting club and shooting range application – Police portal
How submit your application by post
Send the completed application form and the supporting information to:
Clubs and Ranges Team
Te Tari Pūreke – Firearms Safety Authority
DX PX10012
Palmerston North.
Fees and invoicing
Fees:
Application fee: $140.
Annual fee:
- $40 for clubs that sell or supply ammunition or firearms on behalf of others
- $30 for other clubs.
All fees include GST of 15%.
Invoicing:
You will be invoiced when Te Tari Pūreke receives your application. Your certificate will not be issued until payment is made.
The invoice for your annual fee must be paid before 30 June each year. You can choose to prepay annual fees for an agreed period when you first apply.
The invoice includes instructions on how and where to pay.
About the fees:
Fees help to pay for about half the cost of regulating clubs and ranges.
Contact
Contact the Clubs and Ranges team if you have any questions.
