Firearms licence (New Zealand)
A firearms licence is required for any private citizen in New Zealand to own or use a gun (except under the immediate supervision of someone with a licence)[1]. Licences are issued at the discretion of the police, but in practice they are rarely denied.
The requirements are:
- Must be over 16
- Must attend a safety lecture given by a volunteer from the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council
- Must pass a written test based on the material in the Arms Code, a booklet put out by the police about New Zealand's gun laws and recommended safety practices.
- Must have a police officer inspect the security at the applicant's home (a gun rack, safe, strongroom or "receptacle of stout construction" is required)
- Must undergo an interview with a police officer
- Must provide the details of two referees, one a relative and one not, to vouch for the applicant
- Must pay NZD$123.75
The basic licence gives permission to own and use without registering any number of "sporting-type" rifles and shotguns (other than full-automatic) which is any rifle or shotgun that is not a so-called "Military-Style Semi-Automatic".
Collectors, museum curators, and people who value a firearm as an heirloom or memento can get a special endorsement to possess other firearms, which must be kept partially disassembled. It costs $200, requires further interviews and references, and the police often will not grant it. People working in the film, TV and theatre industries can also get such an endorsement to use guns as props, but they can be fired with blanks only.
Pistols can also be possessed on a "B" endorsement, only available to people who have belonged to a pistol club for more than a year and attend at least 12 shoots annually. These pistols can only be used at a club range, and can only be carried in public unloaded between a licensee's home, a club range or a firearms dealer.
Military-style semi-automatics can be possessed on an "E" endorsement which also is issued at the discretion of police, usually for a restricted purpose such as professional shooting or service rifle shooting.
