A fit and proper person:

• is a person of good conduct and character
• possesses and uses firearms responsibly
• stores firearms securely
• abides by the laws of New Zealand

When Te Tari Pūreke assesses if you are a fit and proper person, we consider:

• your overall character and conduct
• information provided by you and your referees
• information we hold or receive from any source

The Arms Act 1983 gives some circumstances in which Te Tari Pūreke may find you are not a fit and proper person to have and use firearms.

If any of these circumstances apply to you, we do not automatically refuse your application. However, we will probably have more questions.

• You have been charged with or convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment.
• You have been charged with or convicted of an offence under the Arms Act 1983, against section 231A of the Crimes Act 1961, or against the Game Animal Council Act 2013, the Wildlife Act 1953, or the Wild Animal Control Act 1977.
• You have had a temporary protection order made against you under section 79 of the Family Violence Act 2018, or section 14 of the Domestic Violence Act 1995.
• You have given grounds for a protection order under the Family Violence Act 2018.
• You have had a restraining order made against you under the Harassment Act 1997.
• You have not complied with the requirements of the Arms Act, regulations made under the Arms Act, or the conditions of a permit, licence, or endorsement issued to you under the Arms Act. You have been a member or affiliated with a gang or organised criminal group.
• You have exhibited, encouraged, or promoted violence, hatred, or extremism.
• You have been assessed as a risk to national security.
• You have a mental or physical illness or injury that affects your ability to safely possess firearms.
• You have abused alcohol or been dependent on alcohol. You have used drugs that affect your judgement or behaviour.

If Te Tari Pūreke has a reason to find you are not a fit and proper person, we tell you the reason (some exemptions apply) and give you an opportunity to refute or comment on it. 

Disqualified person

If you are a disqualified person from holding a firearms licence:

• you cannot apply for a licence
• Te Tari Pūreke can’t consider your application

You are disqualified from holding a firearms licence if in the last 10 years you have had a protection order, other than a temporary order, made against you under the Family Violence Act 2018 or the Domestic Violence Act 1995.

You are disqualified from holding a firearms licence if in the last 10 years you have been convicted or released from custody after being convicted of offences under the:

• Sentencing Act 2002
• Arms Act 1983
• Crimes Act 1961

You may be disqualified from holding a firearms licence if you have been convicted overseas for an offence involving violence, drugs, or alcohol.

Sentencing Act 2002

Any serious violent offence as defined in the Sentencing Act disqualifies you from holding a firearms licence.

Arms Act 1983

Offences under the Arms Act that disqualify people from holding a licence include:

• importing a firearm or other arms item without a permit
• importing prohibited ammunition
• selling or supplying a prohibited firearm or magazine
• unlawfully possessing a prohibited firearm
• unlawfully carrying or possessing a prohibited firearm in a public place
• presenting a prohibited firearm at another person
• using or attempting to use a prohibited firearm, airgun, or other arms item to resist or prevent arrest, or to commit an offence
• carrying a prohibited firearm, or other arms item with criminal intent assembling a prohibited firearm
• illegally manufacturing arms items
• illegally trafficking firearms, parts, or ammunition falsifying firearm markings

Crimes Act 1961

Offences under the Crimes Act that disqualify people from holding a licence include:

• piracy
• slave dealing
• participation in an organised criminal group
• strangulation or suffocation
• acid throwing
• assault with a weapon
• blackmail
• arson
• intentional damage
• threatening to kill or do grievous bodily harm

The photo must meet the minimum requirements as set out in the Arms Regulations 1992, regulation 30, Photographs

The photo must:

• have been taken no more than 12 months before you submit your application
• be a full front view of your face, head, and shoulders, with your head filling most of the photo
• be of you without a hat or head covering (unless your religion requires you to wear a hat or head covering)
• have a plain, light-coloured background
• be a colour photo 

Te Tari Pūreke cannot accept a scanned copy of a photo.

Passport photos from commercial outlets typically meet these requirements.

• A digital photo must be:
• a portrait photo, with a 4:3 aspect ratio
• in jpg or jpeg format
• between 25KB and 10MB
• between 900 and 4500 pixels wide, and 1200 and 6000 pixels high

We do not accept photos that do not meet these standards.

If you are submitting a paper application, you must provide two identical prints of your photo, measuring 45mm by 35mm untrimmed on good quality photo paper.