Check what the endorsement allows you to do, who can apply and what you need to provide in your application.

Firearms Registry requirements apply from 24 June 2023

If you’re applying for or reapplying for a firearms licence or endorsement from 24 June 2023, you must register all items in your possession within 30 days of submission, including those you have a permit for. 

This does not apply if you submitted your application before 24 June 2023. 

Firearms Registry 

When you need an endorsement

You must have an endorsement to possess pistols in your capacity as a member of an incorporated pistol club, that holds a certificate of approval issued by the Commissioner of Police.  

Who is eligible to apply

To apply for an endorsement, you must:  

  • be aged 16 or over  
  • be a member of an incorporated pistol club that holds a certificate of approval issued by the Commissioner of Police  
  • have a New Zealand firearms licence, or be applying for one. 

How long a pistol target shooting endorsement lasts

An endorsement lasts until: 

  • your firearms licence expires or is surrendered or revoked 
  • your endorsement is surrendered or revoked 
  • if you stop being a member of an incorporated pistol club that holds a certificate of approval issued by the Commissioner of Police, you need to tell us

Your endorsement will be revoked as you no longer meet the criteria.  

Information you need to provide in your application

When you apply for an endorsement, you need to provide the following information: 

  • your firearms licence number 
  • your reasons for wanting to own and use pistols 
  • the details of your pistol target shooting club 
  • your personal background – for example, how long you have been a member of the club 
  • referee details 
  • security arrangements. 

If it’s the first time you’re applying for this endorsement, you must also include evidence you have completed your club’s pistol safety training course. 

You may have to answer the same questions as when you applied for a firearms licence. We ask these questions again to make sure we have the latest information when we review your application. 

Referee details

Your endorsement referee must:  

  • be aged 20 or over
  • be a new referee – not someone you have already used in your firearms licence application
  • know you well
  • be a member of your pistol club
  • have seen you shoot a pistol at least 4 times.

Your endorsement referee must not be:

  • your relative, spouse, or partner, or a former spouse or partner from the past 5 years  
  • your employee
  • employed by New Zealand Police  
  • living at the same address as you.  

Security arrangements

You must:  

  • provide the address where you store, or plan to store pistols
  • show that you are meeting the secure storage requirements of Regulation 28 of the Arms Regulations.

Arms Regulations 1992, regulation 28, Security precautions in relation to pistols, prohibited firearms, prohibited magazines, and restricted weapons | New Zealand Legislation website  

For guidance on security for endorsed firearms, visit:

Storage and transportation of firearms and ammunition

Your security arrangements will be inspected.

If you do not have secure storage yet, you must arrange to install it. Your application will not be approved until Te Tari Pūreke are satisfied with your secure storage arrangements. 

A photo – if you are applying only for an endorsement

If you are only applying for an endorsement, and not a licence, you must provide a photo.

You must supply a recent, good quality digital photograph that is a good likeness of yourself. A scanned copy of a photograph will not be accepted. 

The photograph must meet the minimum requirements as set out in Regulation 30 of the Arms Regulations 1992. Passport photos from commercial outlets will typically meet these requirements. 

This means the photograph must: 

  • have been taken within the last 12 months   
  • be a full front view of your face – chin to forehead and both sides of your face  
  • show head and shoulders, with the head filling most of the photograph  
  • be of you without a hat or head covering (except where your religion requires you to wear a hat or head covering)  
  • have a plain, light-coloured background  
  • be in colour and in focus  
  • be in portrait format (with a 4:3 aspect ratio)  
  • be in JPG or JPEG format  
  • be between 25KB and 10MB  
  • be between 900 and 4500 pixels wide and 1200 and 6000 pixels high.  

We will not accept photographs that do not meet these standards.

Information your club must provide

Your club must complete their portion of the Club and National Association Confirmation and Recommendation form. Your application will not be processed until Te Tari Pūreke receives this completed form.

Step 1: Ask your club to complete the form: 

Club and National Association Confirmation and Recommendation (PDF) 

Step 2: If your club is affiliated with Pistol New Zealand, the club must send the form to them: 

Pistol New Zealand website 

Step 3: Pistol New Zealand verify the information and send Te Tari Pūreke the completed form.  

Note: If your club is not affiliated with Pistol New Zealand, your club will send the form directly to Te Tari Pūreke. 

When you have an endorsement, you are eligible to apply for a permit

Once you have an endorsement, you are eligible to apply for a permit to import or possess pistols, pistol carbine conversion kits (PCCKs), or their parts. 

Permits 

Related links

 

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