New Zealand’s firearms laws are being updated and modernised, following extensive feedback from the firearms community.

Under these changes, Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand will be the name of New Zealand’s new firearms regulator. This new organisation reflects the Government’s intent for there to be an independent regulator delivering modern, user-focused services that enhance firearms safety, education, and compliance across New Zealand.

Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand will have responsibility for implementing the significant Arms Act 2026 legislative changes (when passed into law); and delivering operational and service improvements supported through Budget 2026.

Going forward, the delivery of firearms licensing and other regulatory services will be delivered by Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand, independent of NZ Police. NZ Police continue to focus on criminal law enforcement.

On this page we’ll provide the background information about these changes, and regularly update the firearms community and all New Zealand about what these changes mean, and how they will impact everyone.

What the 2026 changes mean for you

• On 11 November 2025, the Associate Minister of Justice, Hon Nicole McKee, announced that Cabinet had decided to repeal and replace the Act.  You can view the Minister’s statement here.
   
• The Arms Bill was introduced to Parliament on 8 December 2025, and the Government said it intended to pass the legislation in this parliamentary term.  You can view the Arms Bill in full here.
   
• The Bill received its first reading on 9 December 2025. 
  • You can read the downloadable PDF file Legislative Statement for the Arms Bill, First Reading in full here.
  • You can read the Hansard Record of the First Reading of the Arms Bill here.
  • You can watch a video of the Arms Bill - First Reading here.
     
• It was referred to the Justice Committee for public submissions. Submissions closed on 16 February 2026 and the Committee heard oral submissions in March, 2026. 
  -  Submissions received on the Bill can be viewed on this page – by clicking on the ‘Submissions and Advice’ tab.
   
• The Arms Bill recently completed the Select Committee stage, with a 300-page report back from the Justice Select Committee, which you can download as a PDF and read in full here. 

The Second Reading

The Committee’s report is a set of recommendations to all MPs. At the Second Reading on 21 July 2026, MPs debated the Select Committee report and its proposed changes, and the issues they heard from public submissions.

You can read a full transcript of the Second Reading debate on Parliament’s website.

You can also view a video of the Second Reading debate on Parliament’s website.

Parliament passes new firearms laws

Parliament has passed the Arms Bill to repeal and replace the Arms Act 1983.

Some key changes include:

• Requiring any person or organisation operating under the firearms regulatory regime to act in the interests of personal, community and public safety.
• Gang membership disqualifies a person from holding a firearms licence.
• Firearms regulator given power to issue infringements for low-level non-compliance by a licensed firearm owner.
• Codifying how the firearms regulator, Police, and other agencies share information that raises concerns about a licence holders’ “fit and proper” status and to share information about risks and incidents involving arms items.
• Penalties increased to reflect the seriousness of offences.
• Greater flexibility for licence holders to store firearms in the most appropriate location to prevent theft and unlawful access.
• Dealer’s licences renamed "business licences" and their duration extended to five years for compliant holders.
• Creation of museum-specific licences.
• Fee reviews every five years.

The new Act will also establish Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand as a new independent regulator of the firearms system, replacing Te Tari Pūreke - the Firearms Safety Authority, which is a branded business unit of the New Zealand Police.

The new agency will come into being on 23 September 2026.

Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand will be headed by an independent chief executive appointed by the Governor-General who will report to the responsible Minister.

The new agency will receive corporate services and support from the Police – things like Finance, IT and HR support. The Ministry of Justice will be responsible for monitoring it.

There is more information at: 

• Better firearm laws locked and loaded (Ministerial release)
• Firearms reform | New Zealand Ministry of Justice
   

Taking the final steps to becoming law – Royal Assent

It then becomes law after receiving the Royal Assent.

Commencement

The new Arms Act 2026 (as it will be known then), comes into effect at the commencement date(s) outlined in the Act. Most of the new Act, along with new firearms regulations, will come into force on 23 September 2026, with some exceptions.

The requirements for commercial ammunition sellers will come into force on 23 July 2027 with existing ammunition sellers needing to have transitioned across the new system by 23 February 2028. The remaining policy proposals will come into force on 23 February 2028. 
 

A summary of some of the key legislative changes

The Ministry of Justice have produced a handy list of changes in a Fact Sheet that outlines the current Arms Act provisions and proposed changes. You can view that downloadable PDF here.