There are steps you must follow when you buy, sell, supply or receive an arms item. This includes providing information for the Firearms Registry.

Transferring items via the Firearms Registry

When a firearm changes hand from one firearms licence holder to another, both parties must call Te Tari Pūreke and transfer possession of the item. 

This cannot be done through MyFirearms and is a different process to registering an arms item via MyFirearms.

Contact our team on 0800 844 431. We’re available between 8:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

When you must follow these steps

If you’re an individual firearms licence holder

If you’re an individual firearms licence holder, you must follow these steps when buying, selling, supplying or receiving an arms item. This includes transferring possession in the Firearms Registry.

If you're a firearms dealer

Firearms dealers must follow the steps for supplying arms items by mail order or over the internet. They are not currently required to transfer possession in the Firearms Registry.

What the Firearms Registry means for dealers

Selling or supplying face-to-face

Whether you’re selling, trading or giving a firearm or other arms item to another person, to transfer possession you must have proof the person receiving the item holds a firearms licence.

If the item is an airgun (but not a specially dangerous airgun) or a pistol carbine conversion kit (PCCK) for an airgun, the person receiving the item does not need a firearms licence, but you must have proof they are aged 18 or over.

You can use our Firearms Licence Checker tool to make sure their licence is valid.

Firearms Licence Checker

The licence holder must also have the right endorsement and apply for a permit to possess if the item is a:

  • pistol
  • restricted weapon
  • prohibited firearm
  • prohibited magazine
  • pistol carbine conversion kit (PCCK).

Step 1: Confirm the recipient can legally possess the item

The person receiving the item must show you their firearms licence card and endorsement. Examine it carefully to make sure the photo matches and the card has not been altered – even if you have already used the Firearms Licence Checker tool.

If the item is an airgun or a PCCK for an airgun, you must have proof the person is aged 18 or over – for example, a driver licence or bank-issued photo ID. If the person is aged 16 or 17, they must have a firearms licence.

Step 2: Confirm the recipient has a permit to possess, if applicable

If the person receiving the item requires a permit to possess, you must either:

  • view the original copy of it signed by Police, enter your details, sign it and keep the seller’s copy, or
  • have received an email direct from Police authorising the transaction. You must save this email for your records.

Both of you must follow the permit to possess process.

Endorsements

Permit to possess

Step 3: Provide information for the Firearms Registry

If you sell or supply an arms item, you must update the Registry at the time or immediately after.

How to transfer possession in the Registry

Step 4: Delivery

Where the seller is not transferring the arms item face to face, they will need to use a courier or transport company to move the arms item to another location. 

Courier and transport companies have their own rules around the movement of arms items, including only moving between licensed dealers, or only allowing depot to depot transfers, and some transport companies will not accept firearms. 

The easiest way to move the arms item, is to take it to a licensed firearms dealer. Dealers will have a transport solution to move your arms item to another dealer. The firearms dealer will send the arms item to another dealer, who is located close to the buyer. The buyer can then take possession of the arms item from the receiving dealer. 

Selling or supplying by mail order or through the internet

Step 1: Confirm the recipient can legally possess the item

To prove their firearms licence is current and they have the correct endorsement, the recipient must follow the process for buying or receiving a firearm or arms item by mail order or through the internet.

You can expect to receive the form by email or mail once Police have approved the transaction.

We recommend you also use the Firearms Licence Checker tool to confirm their licence is valid.

Firearms Licence Checker

Step 2: Confirm the recipient has a permit to possess, if applicable

If the person receiving the item requires a permit to possess, you must have received an email direct from Police authorising the transaction. You must save this email for your records.

Both of you must follow the permit to possess process.

Endorsements

Permit to possess

Step 3: Provide information for the Firearms Registry

If you sell or supply an arms item, you must update the Registry at the time or immediately after.

How to transfer possession in the Registry

Buying or receiving non-prohibited firearms or other items by mail order or through the internet

Use this form if you are buying or receiving any of the following arms items and the sale cannot be completed in person:

  • non-prohibited firearms
  • airguns
  • non-prohibited magazines
  • non-prohibited parts
  • ammunition
  • pistol carbine conversion kits (PCCKs).

Step 1: Print, complete and sign the form

Step 2: Deliver the form to your nearest Police station

Find your local Police station

Step 3: The form will be sent to the seller

If you meet the requirements, Te Tari Pūreke will notify you and email or mail the form directly to the seller.

Step 4: Provide information for the Firearms Registry

If you buy or receive an arms item, you must call us to confirm you have received the arms item as soon as is practicable, but within 30 days, on 0800 844 431 between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

How to transfer possession in the Registry

Buying or receiving prohibited parts by mail order or through the internet

Step 1: Check you have the right endorsement

To possess a prohibited part, you must have the appropriate endorsement on your licence.

Endorsements

Step 2: Apply for a permit to possess

You must obtain a permit to possess to be able to buy or receive a prohibited part.

Permit to possess

Step 3: Print, complete and sign the form

Step 4: Deliver the form to your nearest Police station

Find your local Police station

Step 5: The form will be sent to the seller

If you meet the requirements, Te Tari Pūreke will notify you and mail or email the form directly to the seller.

Step 6: Provide information for the Firearms Registry

If you buy or receive an arms item, you must call us to confirm you have received the arms item as soon as is practicable, but within 30 days, on 0800 844 431 between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

How to transfer possession in the Registry

Delivery

In most situations, deliveries will happen as a dealer-to-dealer transfer.

The seller must instruct the courier that if the item cannot be signed for on delivery, it must be held at the premises of the transport/courier company until it can be collected. The item must be sent as “track and trace”.

For sales of prohibited parts, you must use the courier stated on the form.

Transferring possession in the Firearms Registry

If you sell or supply an arms item

When you sell or supply an arms item, you must call us to confirm it has been transferred into another licence holder’s possession at the time of the sale or supply, or immediately after on 0800 844 431 between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

We’ll need to know:

  • the details of the arms item
  • the date you handed over or dispatched the arms item, and
  • the name and licence number of the person to whom the item was delivered.

In the case of a pistol, prohibited firearm, prohibited magazine, pistol carbine conversion kit, or restricted weapon delivered to a person who requires a permit to possess it, you must also provide the number of the permit.

If you have not already done so, you may be required to provide other information for the Registry.

Find out when to register or update your information

If you buy or receive an arms item

If you buy or receive an arms item, you must call us to confirm you have received the arms item as soon as is practicable, but within 30 days, on 0800 844 431 between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

We’ll need to know:

  • the details of the arms item
  • the date when the arms item came into your possession, and
  • the name and firearms licence number of the person from whom the item was received.

If you have not already done so, you may be required to provide other information for the Registry.

Find out when to register or update your information

How to transfer an arms item in the Registry

Call us on 0800 844 431 between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

If you loan or borrow an arms item for less than 30 days

If you are loaning or borrowing an arms item for less than 30 days and it does not require a permit to possess, you do not need to transfer possession in the Registry.

However, if the arms item does require a permit to possess, you must update the Registry every time it is transferred into another licence holder's possession.

If you loan or borrow an arms item for more than 30 days

You must always transfer possession of an arms item in the Registry if it will leave or come into your possession for more than 30 days.

Last updated
7 August 2024

 

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phone Phone 0800 844 431 (04 499 2870)
8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday