07/08/2026
Kia ora koutou,
Parliament recently passed the Arms Act 2026 updating and modernising New Zealand’s fi****ms laws.
Day-to-day responsibility for the fi****ms regulatory system is shifting to an independent regulator – Fi****ms Safety and Education New Zealand (FSE).
From 23 September, 2026, it has responsibility for implementing the new Arms Act 2026. Fi****ms Safety and Education New Zealand will be focused on:
encouraging a culture of community safety;enabling legitimate possession and use;ensuring compliance through education and enforcement; and;providing simpler, smarter services for fi****ms licence holders.•encouraging a culture of community safety;•enabling legitimate possession and use;•ensuring compliance through education and enforcement; and;•providing simpler, smarter services for fi****ms licence holders.
Here we share with the fi****ms community some of the changes that will be coming from 23 September, and beyond. Fi****ms Regulations are currently being rewritten, and when they are published, we will provide an update about these.
What’s changing for you
A new fi****ms regulator
Fi****ms Safety and Education New Zealand (FSE) replaces Te Tari Pūreke – Fi****ms Safety Authority from 23 September 2026.Licensing and other regulatory decisions will be delivered independently of NZ Police. Police will focus on criminal law enforcement.FSE has its own Chief Executive who reports directly to the Minister Responsible for Fi****ms, not the Commissioner of Police. NZ Police will continue to provide corporate services – including Finance, IT, facilities, and HR support.•Fi****ms Safety and Education New Zealand (FSE) replaces Te Tari Pūreke – Fi****ms Safety Authority from 23 September 2026.•Licensing and other regulatory decisions will be delivered independently of NZ Police. Police will focus on criminal law enforcement.•FSE has its own Chief Executive who reports directly to the Minister Responsible for Fi****ms, not the Commissioner of Police. NZ Police will continue to provide corporate services – including Finance, IT, facilities, and HR support.
Individual licence holders
Current licences remain current; and applications already in the system continue to be processed.Licence decisions can be taken to a new Fi****ms Licensing Review Committee for independent review.Licence holders will be able to nominate an alternative address to their primary residence, to be their approved secure storage. This will help renters, students, and retirees to securely store their fi****ms at the most suitable location.•Current licences remain current; and applications already in the system continue to be processed.•Licence decisions can be taken to a new Fi****ms Licensing Review Committee for independent review.•Licence holders will be able to nominate an alternative address to their primary residence, to be their approved secure storage. This will help renters, students, and retirees to securely store their fi****ms at the most suitable location.
Business licence holders (formerly dealer licence)
Dealer licence holders become Business licence holders; current licence holders remain current.Business licences are extended to a five-year licence after a compliance record is established. This means licence holders on their third licence (or second renewal) will become eligible for a five-year licence.Employees won’t need endorsements if handling endorsed items in the business. They still require a fi****ms licence to work at a licensed business.•Dealer licence holders become Business licence holders; current licence holders remain current.•Business licences are extended to a five-year licence after a compliance record is established. This means licence holders on their third licence (or second renewal) will become eligible for a five-year licence.•Employees won’t need endorsements if handling endorsed items in the business. They still require a fi****ms licence to work at a licensed business.
Museums
Dealer licence holders who are museum curators or managers become Museum licence holders.Museum curators or managers will still require a fi****ms licence to apply for a Museum Licence.Museum employees can have a new Museum Worker licence to handle arms items at their workplace. They will not need to maintain an individual fi****ms licence.•Dealer licence holders who are museum curators or managers become Museum licence holders.•Museum curators or managers will still require a fi****ms licence to apply for a Museum Licence.•Museum employees can have a new Museum Worker licence to handle arms items at their workplace. They will not need to maintain an individual fi****ms licence.
Biosecurity (formerly pest) controllers
‘Pest control’ is renamed ‘biosecurity control’; Biosecurity licences will shift to five-yearly from 23 February 2028.In the future, employees will be able to do short-term transfers of restricted fi****ms (formerly called ‘prohibited’ fi****ms).Biosecurity employees can possess more than one restricted magazine (formerly ‘prohibited’ magazine).•‘Pest control’ is renamed ‘biosecurity control’; Biosecurity licences will shift to five-yearly from 23 February 2028.•In the future, employees will be able to do short-term transfers of restricted fi****ms (formerly called ‘prohibited’ fi****ms).•Biosecurity employees can possess more than one restricted magazine (formerly ‘prohibited’ magazine).
Importers, Manufacturers and Collectors
Licence holders will not require a permit to possess for items that have been with a gunsmith/business for repair and that are returned within 21 days or less.An import permit is now required for additional and new items that have been introduced in the Arms Act 2026. We’ll have more details about this in the future.From 23 February 2028, licence holders with a collector’s endorsements are allowed to store vital parts with other licence holders who do not have an endorsement.•Licence holders will not require a permit to possess for items that have been with a gunsmith/business for repair and that are returned within 21 days or less.•An import permit is now required for additional and new items that have been introduced in the Arms Act 2026. We’ll have more details about this in the future.•From 23 February 2028, licence holders with a collector’s endorsements are allowed to store vital parts with other licence holders who do not have an endorsement.
Visitor licence holders
From 23 February 2028, multiple trip visitor licences will allow multiple entry within an 18-month period on the one licence.•From 23 February 2028, multiple trip visitor licences will allow multiple entry within an 18-month period on the one licence.
Shooting Clubs and Ranges
New Arms Regulations are expected to drop the number of pistol shoots to maintain an endorsement to 10.Pistol endorsement holders can possess large capacity pistol magazines without an additional endorsement.•New Arms Regulations are expected to drop the number of pistol shoots to maintain an endorsement to 10.•Pistol endorsement holders can possess large capacity pistol magazines without an additional endorsement.
Fi****ms Registry
There is no change to the date by which all individual licence holders need to register their arms items – 24 June 2028. Businesses and Museums have been extended to 24 June 2029.•There is no change to the date by which all individual licence holders need to register their arms items – 24 June 2028. Businesses and Museums have been extended to 24 June 2029.
Stay up-to-date with all the changes
Licence holders wanting to stay up-to-date or to find out more, can go to our current website and click on the link from the homepage.
Other easy ways that you can keep yourself informed are following our page; or signing up to our monthly newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/h6kn7b
Ngā mihi
Lukasz Zawilski
Establishment Chief Executive
Fi****ms Safety Authority
PO Box 3017 Wellington Wellington 6037 NEW ZEALAND
Te Tari Pūreke | Fi****ms Safety Authority Email Forms
