Learn about the importance of your health and wellbeing as a firearms licence holder and what to do if you're concerned about your physical or mental health.

Your health and what to look out for

As a firearms licence holder, you have responsibilities when experiencing a physical or mental health condition that may adversely affect your safe use of firearms. 

Mental health conditions are common, and we encourage anyone with symptoms to seek help early from a health practitioner or other medical professional to keep themselves and others safe.

Physical or mental health conditions that go untreated may cause symptoms that lead to safety concerns for a licence holder, and could indicate they are no longer 'fit and proper' to possess firearms.

The appropriate treatment and management of physical and mental health conditions is always preferable to suspension or loss of your licence.

What to do if you're concerned about your physical or mental health

If you do not think you can keep yourself safe or you are a danger to others, please call 111 and ask for Police. 

If you experience the symptoms of a physical or mental illness or injury that you believe negatively affects your ability to possess firearms safely, it's a requirement under the Arms Act that you inform your health practitioner and Te Tari Pūreke.  

Arms Act 1983 No 44 (as at 24 June 2023), Public Act 24B General conditions of firearms licence | New Zealand Legislation

Contact us:

  • Phone 0800 844 431 (04 499 2870); or
  • Phone the non-emergency Police number: 105. 

Relevant health conditions

There is no exhaustive list of health conditions that may be relevant to the safe possession and use of firearms.

Of particular concern is whether the health condition is developing or manifesting itself (or is likely to) in such a way that, in the interests of individual or public safety, you:

  • should not continue to possess firearms 
  • should not continue to possess firearms for a specified period until the health condition or disability no longer impacts on your fit and proper status 
  • should only possess firearms on certain conditions.

Examples of the sorts of health conditions or disabilities that you should discuss with your health practitioner include:  

  • mental health issues of any kind, including depression, stress, anxiety, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, or psychosis, especially if they are poorly controlled or escalating in severity  
  • development of suicidal thoughts or feelings 
  • serious head injury or neurological conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Multi System Atrophy 
  • seizures, dizziness, blackouts 
  • alcohol or other drug misuse or dependence to the extent it affects your judgement or behaviour 
  • decline in functioning of memory, thinking, understanding, and judgement 
  • exhibiting or reporting behaviour suggesting anger or violence (including previous or current family harm) 
  • drowsiness or problems with cognition, secondary to a health condition or medication 
  • any physical condition that would make handling firearms unsafe, for example, visual or hearing impairment, poor mobility, increased risk of falls. 

This list is designed to emphasise the wide spectrum of medical conditions and health states that may impact significantly on your suitability to possess firearms. It's not exhaustive, and you should consider notifying us and your health practitioner about any concerns you might have.

Other steps you can take when concerned about your health

As well as reporting your symptoms, there are other steps you can take.

Make a contingency plan

It's a good idea to make arrangements for the disposal or safe-keeping of your firearms in the event of physical or mental illness or injury.

You might also want to update your will to include instructions regarding your firearms.

Note: There are specific legal actions triggered following the death of a firearms licence holder. See:

When a licence holder dies

You may consider having an agreement with another firearms licence holder that they can remove the firearms from your safe if you are incapacitated. They will need to know the code to your safe or where you securely store your keys.

Make sure other household members are aware of this contingency plan.

Storage and transportation of firearms and ammunition

Store your firearms with another licence holder

At any point you may store your firearm with another firearms licence holder. You will need to provide information for the Firearms Registry about the transfer of possession. 

When to update information in the Registry

When a firearm changes hands

You could also consider surrendering your firearms and arms items.

Consider surrendering your firearms and arms items

If your symptoms impact your ability to safely possess or use firearms, you should consider surrendering your firearms and arms items.

You can surrender firearms to:

  • a current New Zealand firearms licence holder, or
  • a licensed firearms dealer, or
  • New Zealand Police.

Surrendering an arms item or ammunition

You could also consider surrendering your firearms licence.

Consider surrendering your firearms licence

If you have concerns about your health and do not feel fit and proper to safely possess or use firearms, you may want to consider surrendering your firearms licence. Once your health condition has improved, you may apply for a firearms licence again at any point.

You may surrender (give up and hand in) your firearms licence to Police or Te Tari Pūreke at any time. This relates to Sections 27 and 28 of the Arms Act 1983.

Arms Act 1983 No 44 (as at 24 June 2023), Public Act 27 Surrender and revocation of firearms licence | New Zealand Legislation

Arms Act 1983 No 44 (as at 24 June 2023), Public Act 28 Effect of revocation or surrender of firearms licence | New Zealand Legislation

To surrender your licence: 

On surrender of your licence, you are no longer licensed to possess arms items or ammunition.

If you have firearms in your possession, you must transfer them to another firearms licence holder, or surrender them to Police. 

Using a firearm under supervision without a licence

What to do if you're concerned about another firearms licence holder's health

If you are friends or whānau of a firearms licence holder and you are concerned their physical or mental health is negatively affecting their ability to possess firearms safely, you should contact us.

If there is an immediate danger to people or property:

  • phone 111 and ask for Police.

If you have general concerns:

  • phone 0800 844 431 (04 499 2870)
  • phone the non-emergency Police number 105. 

If you’re a firearms licence holder and someone in your household is experiencing symptoms of a mental illness

If you have firearms in your home and someone in your household is experiencing symptoms of a mental illness and Te Tari Pūreke is notified, we may have a conversation with you to understand the risks to your safety and the safety of others.

What actions you could take as a licence holder

You could consider temporarily storing your firearms with another licence holder or surrendering them.

Disposal of illegally held or unwanted firearms

You will need to provide information for the Firearms Registry about the transfer.

When to update information in the Registry

What actions Te Tari Pūreke could take

There are a number of options available to Te Tari Pūreke to manage risks posed by physical or mental health concerns relating to firearms licence holders. These include:
  • imposing firearms licence conditions 
  • asking you to provide a medical assessment for the affected person
  • asking you to surrender your firearms licence under Section 27(1) of the Arms Act 1983
  • suspending your firearms licence pending possible revocation, under Section 60A of the Arms Act 1983.

Arms Act 1983 No 44 (as at 24 June 2023), Public Act 27 Surrender and revocation of firearms licence | New Zealand Legislation or;

Arms Act 1983 No 44 (as at 24 June 2023), Public Act 60A Temporary suspension of licence pending possible revocation | New Zealand Legislation

What to do if you're concerned about family harm

If you or someone you know is a victim of family harm and they live with a firearms licence holder, they might be in further danger. You should consider calling 111 and telling Police that there are firearms in the house or that a household member has a firearms licence. 

What happens if your health practitioner has a concern

If your health practitioner tells Te Tari Pūreke or the wider Police they are concerned about your possession of or access to firearms, this will be referred to the Firearms Resolutions Team to consider the appropriate intervention or action.  

Each report is considered on a case-by-case basis and in conjunction with other information held about the licence holder.

Read more about what happens when your health practitioner has a concern: 

Information for health practitioners

Know your obligations as a firearms licence holder

Informing Te Tari Pūreke of any health concerns

As a firearms licence holder, if you experience the symptoms of a physical or mental illness or injury that adversely affects your ability to possess firearms safely, you need to inform Te Tari Pūreke.  

This obligation is covered by Sections 24B(1)(e) and 24A(1)(h) Arms Act 1983:

Contact us:

  • phone 0800 844 431 (09 302 6500) 
  • phone the non-emergency Police number 105. 

If we require more information 

We may require more information about the health condition before deciding what steps to take. You may be asked to provide a medical report.

Te Tari Pūreke only requires information that relates to the health condition that is, or could be, impacting your suitability to safely possess firearms.

Te Tari Pūreke's obligations under the Arms Act

Te Tari Pūreke oversees lawful firearms possession in New Zealand and ensures firearms possession is limited to those who are fit and proper to possess firearms, use them safely and responsibly, and who comply with their legislative responsibilities. 

The Arms Act 1983 (the Act) provides a regulatory framework which seeks to protect the public from the harm that may be caused by the misuse of firearms.

Arms Act 1983 No 44 (as at 24 June 2023), Public Act Contents | New Zealand Legislation

What actions Te Tari Pūreke might take when responding to health concerns

There are a number of options available to Te Tari Pūreke to manage risks posed by physical or mental health concerns relating to firearms licence holders. These include: 

  • imposing firearms licence conditions
  • asking you (or the affected household member) to provide a medical assessment; or
  • suspending your firearms licence pending possible revocation, under Section 27(1) of the Arms Act 1983 (unless you elect to surrender it earlier).

Arms Act 1983 No 44 (as at 24 June 2023), Public Act 27 Surrender and revocation of firearms licence – New Zealand Legislation

Suspension of firearms licence

Your firearms licence may be suspended as a result of notification of concern for your physical or mental health, due to information that Te Tari Pūreke or the wider Police receive in another way. 

If Police attend an incident relating to mental health, they may seize the firearms licence and/or firearms for safekeeping until Te Tari Pūreke have reviewed the incident and made a decision around the licence. 

As the firearms licence holder, you may be asked to provide a medical assessment, and your licence may be suspended, pending possible revocation.   

If Te Tari Pūreke suspends your firearms licence pending possible revocation, this is a step taken out of concern for your safety or the safety of others.

It's important to note that if your firearms licence is suspended, you are not licensed to possess firearms.

We will notify you if your firearms licence is suspended, and you will have time to gather information to submit for consideration for your licence to be retained before a decision is made about revocation. Te Tari Pūreke will provide you with further information about the process.

Revocation of firearms licence

If Te Tari Pūreke revokes your firearms licence, there will be a 5-year stand-down period before you can reapply for a firearms licence, as specified in section 23(1)(b) of the Arms Act 1983:

Arms Act 1983 No 44 (as at 24 June 2023), Public Act 23 Application for firearms licence | New Zealand Legislation

You cannot possess firearms, even under supervision, if your licence has been revoked.

IMPORTANT: If your firearms licence is suspended or revoked, you are not licensed to possess firearms. 

Other health-related responsibilities for licence holders

Letting your health practitioner know you are a licence holder

For your safety and the safety of others, your doctor or health practitioner needs to know you have a firearms licence. 

The obligations of health practitioners are outlined in:

Information for health practitioners

Health practitioners are not the final decision makers on firearms licence status. Information provided by health practitioners is not the only information Te Tari Pūreke can consider when deciding on someone’s fit and proper status.

In many cases, they will also consider information from others before reaching a decision. 

When to inform your health practitioner

When you apply for a licence

When you apply for a firearms licence, you are asked to provide your health practitioner details as part of the application process. Your health practitioner is automatically notified when you are granted a new firearms licence. 

When your health practitioner changes

If you are an existing licence holder, you may wish to inform your new health practitioner, so they can add this to your patient record. 

How to notify Te Tari Pūreke if you change your health practitioner

If you change health practitioner, or their contact details have changed, you're required to notify Te Tari Pūreke.

Notify us of a change of health practitioner

Where you can find further information

Related links

Information for health practitioners
When a firearms licence holder dies
Disposal of illegally held or unwanted firearms
Last updated
20 September 2023

 

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phone Phone 0800 844 431 (04 499 2870)
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