The gun laws of New Zealand are contained in the Arms Act 2026 statute, which replaced the Arms Act 1983. Nearly 300,000 licensed firearm owners own and use New Zealand's estimated 1.5 million firearms. Gun licences are issued at the discretion of the police provided they consider the person to be of good standing and without criminal, psychiatric or drug issues; as well as meeting other conditions such as having suitable storage facilities. Several different categories of licence are permitted, with the most common, "A Category", permitting access to sporting configuration rifles and shotguns.
Tighter regulation was imposed immediately after the Aramoana massacre in 1990, and the Scottish Dunblane and Australian Port Arthur massacres in 1996. After the Christchurch mosque shootings in 2019, legislation to restrict semi-automatic firearms and magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds, and provide an amnesty and buyback of such weapons, was introduced and passed by the New Zealand parliament 119 to 1.
In November 2022, a new firearms regulator called the Firearms Safety Authority was established within the New Zealand Police. In addition, the New Zealand Government established a national firearms register. In July 2026, the Government passed legislation replacing the Arms Act 1983 with the new Arms Act 2026. This legislation separated the Firearms Safety Authority from the police, eased licensing and gun dealership rules, and banned gang members from having gun licenses.
Firearms law Gun laws in New Zealand focus mainly on vetting firearm owners, rather than registering firearms or banning certain types of firearms. Firearms legislation is provided for in the New Zealand's gun laws: the Arms Act 1983, Arms Amendment Act 1992,Arms Amendment Act 1992, legislation.govt.nz and Arms Regulations 1992Arms Regulations 1992, legislation.govt.nz and associated regulations. About 250,000 people hold a New Zealand firearms licence. On 10 April 2019 new bills passed placing heavier restrictions on semi automatic firearms. As part of these, a 'buy back' scheme took place which saw NZ$200 million of government funds go to prohibited firearm owners.
Grounds to carry or use guns
Under New Zealand law, some lawful, proper, and sufficient purpose is needed to use, discharge or carry any firearm, airgun, or similar weapon. The person carrying, using, or discharging the weapon is obliged to prove the purpose was lawful, proper, and sufficient. This requirement applies even if the person can legally possess the weapon. Exactly what constitutes a lawful, proper, and sufficient purpose is not defined in legislation and must be proven on a case-by-case basis. Hunting game, pest control and agricultural uses, sports, collection, and theatrics are all normally acceptable purposes.
The New Zealand firearm licence limits the grounds upon which an individual can carry a gun. The minimum legal age to own a gun is 16.
Personal protection of very important persons (VIPs) It is established New Zealand law and public policy that allowing privately owned guns to be carried by people who provide personal protection to VIPs, whether foreign or domestic, is not appropriate. Armed protection, if necessary, should be provided by the New Zealand Police or the New Zealand Defence Forces. The New Zealand Police has a Diplomatic Protection Service (DPS) that trains and provides protection officers to protect VIPs. DPS protection officers, unlike most New Zealand police officers, are routinely armed while on duty. A temporary exception was made for the 1999 APEC Summit, hosted in Auckland. The Arms Act was specifically amended to allow authorised personal protection officers of foreign dignitaries to carry their own firearms. This exception expired on 30 September 1999.
Self-defence In the Arms Code, a manual on firearms safety, the New Zealand Police advise "The law does not permit the possession of firearms 'in anticipation' that a firearm may need to be used in self-defence."
While the Crimes Act 1961 allows a person to use reasonable force to defend oneself or another person against assault or entry into a dwelling house, that force needs to be proportionate to any force being used to effect the assault or entry and not excessive. Preemptive action in anticipation of a threat or retribution after the threat has passed are both considered excessive force by the courts . Even police actions when confronting armed offenders that results in death or injury of anyone are thoroughly investigated by the police, the Independent Police Conduct Authority and, in cases of death, the coroner.
There have been a number of cases where a member of the public has been justified in discharging a firearm that injured or killed an assailant. In 2006 a gun shop employee shot a machete-wielding armed robber with a handgun that was hidden under the counter. The court dismissed the charges that police laid. In April 2009, a Chinese restaurant and takeaways shop owner shot a masked armed robber with the robber's own gun after wrestling it from him. Police decided against laying charges.
Vehicles
The driver of a vehicle is deemed to be the person who is in possession of any firearm in that vehicle, unless they can prove otherwise.
Unlawful use
Possessing a firearm or other weapon that could cause bodily injury or intimidate with the threat or fear of violence is an aggravating factor in criminal offending and can be a criminal offence on its own. Police responses to such behaviour can have potentially lethal consequences. The Police Armed Offenders Squad are an armed response unit are trained to resolve incidents that involve firearms using proportionate force; in the case of an armed offender this may result in the offender being shot.
Categories of firearms prior to 2019 changes Firearms in New Zealand fell into one of four categories: Pistols are firearms shorter than 762 mm (30 in). Restricted weapons include machine guns, selective-fire assault rifles, grenades and rocket launchers. This category also includes some non-firearm weapons such as pepper spray. Cabinet can declare things to be restricted weapons by regulation. Military-style semi-automatics (MSSAs) include semi-automatic rifles and shotguns that have any of the following components: A folding or telescopic butt A bayonet lug A military pattern free-standing pistol grip A flash suppressor A magazine that holds more than 7 rounds; magazines holding up to 10 rounds may be modified to carry 7 rounds. The limit on rimfire is 10 rounds per magazine. A detachable magazine that holds more than 10 rounds. A Category firearms were those that do not fall into any other category, and are the vast majority of legally-owned firearms in New Zealand, and support a surprisingly wide number of types. For example, semi-automatic AR-15 style rifles were permitted in this category provided they can only hold 7 or less rounds as well as meeting the other criteria.
Registration was not required under the law but the police carry out a regime similar to registration for all but "A Category" firearms. Firearms in any other category required a "permit to procure" before they are transferred.
Categories of firearms after 2019 changes
Pistols – Semi-automatic pistols now must meet the definition of a "small semi-automatic pistol" and have an overall length of 400mm or less, have a barrel length of 101mm or more, as well as be a calibre approved by the Commissioner of Police that goes no faster than 1600fps. Semi-automatic pistols are now classified as prohibited weapons. A weapon like an AR-15 style pistol is no longer included in this category and are now restricted firearms. Restricted weapons include machine guns, selective-fire assault rifles, grenades and rocket launchers. This category also includes some non-firearm weapons such as pepper spray. As of late 2019 all semi auto centre-fire rifles and any rifle or rifle magazine capable of holding more than 10 rounds now fall into the restricted category, as do box magazine fed shotguns and shotguns with a magazine capacity of over 5 cartridges (both pump-action and semi-auto) . Semi-auto tubular magazine shotguns not holding more than 5 rounds and semi-auto rim-fire rifles not holding more than 10 rounds in a magazine are exempt."Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Act 2019" Cabinet can declare things to be restricted weapons by regulation. Prohibited Firearms are a new category of firearms requiring additional endorsements, these include pump-action shotguns that is capable of being used with a detachable magazine, A pump-action shotgun that holds more than 5 rounds, A pump action centrefire rifle capable of being used with detachable magazines, A centrefire pump-action with a non detachable magazine that is capable of holding more than 10 rounds as well as All semi-automatic firearm other than: A rim-fire that holds no more than 10 rounds, A semi-automatic shotgun with a non-detachable tubular magazine holding no more than 5 rounds of that firearms chamber size. A small semi-automatic pistol. Military-style semi-automatics – As of late 2019 the MSSA category no longer exists with all centre-fire semi-auto rifles now in the restricted category. Rim-fire rifles holding more than 10 cartridges also now fall into the restricted class. Shotguns with a capacity of over 5 shells or fed by a box magazine are also restricted. All magazines holding more than 10 rounds are also restricted. Exempted semi-auto long arms include: rim fire rifles holding 10 rounds or less, and shotguns only with tubular magazines and a capacity of five rounds or less. A Category firearms are those that do not fall into any other category, and are the vast majority of legally-owned firearms in New Zealand. As of late 2020 the A category no longer includes centre-fire semi-autos (except shotguns with a tubular magazine of 5 rounds or less). Rim-fire semi-autos with a magazine capacity of 10 or less are A category, as are all manual action rifles with a capacity of 10 rounds or less. There is no restriction on the barrel length of a firearm as long as its overall length is over 762mm (30"). Prohibited ammunition Tracer ammunition – Projectiles containing an element that enables the trajectory of the projectiles to be observed. Enhanced-penetration ammunition – Projectiles that have a steel or tungsten carbide penetrator intended to achieve better penetration. Armour-piercing ammunition – Projectiles intended to penetrate or perforate armour plate and ceramic armours, typically achieved through the use of hardened or specialised core materials. Incendiary ammunition (excluding flares for flare guns) – Projectiles designed to provide an incendiary effect on impact with the target. Explosive ammunition – Projectiles containing a high-explosive charge that detonates on impact with or in close proximity to the target. Multi-purpose ammunition – Armour-piercing incendiary ammunition in which the incendiary compound is replaced by a high-explosive charge to provide a blast, fragmentation, and incendiary effect as well as an armour-piercing effect. Discarding-sabot ammunition (excluding shotgun cartridges) – Small-diametre projectiles designed to pierce armour that are placed into a supporting plug (a sabot) and then pushed down the bore as an assembly; the sabot is stripped off when the assembly leaves the barrel. Multi-projectile ammunition (excluding shotgun ammunition) – Ammunition that has the ability to fire multiple projectiles in a single shot (for example, duplex ammunition). Chemical or biological carrier ammunition (excluding projectiles for any device designed and intended solely for any medical, surgical, veterinary, scientific, agricultural, industrial, or other similar lawful purpose) – Projectiles that have the ability to carry a chemical or biological agent.