The forms in this page contain references to terminology and provisions that have changed under the Arms Act 2026. As we progressively update all forms, they remain available for use. They will be processed under the provisions of the new legislation.
Business licence requirements
Find out what you need to do while operating as a business to meet your obligations under the Arms Act and Arms Regulations.
On this page
- Operating as a business
- Information about business employees
- Business employees do not need endorsements
- Keeping records
- New Registry obligations
- Record-keeping requirements in detail
- Inspections
- Transporting arms items and ammunition
- Secure storage and display guidance
- Selling arms items and ammunition via mail order or over the internet
- Acceptance and handling of surrendered items
- Notification requirements for all surrendered arms items
- Identifying arms items you receive
- Identifying arms items you manufacture
- Testing arms items
- Selling and supplying airguns
- Extended timeframe for repairs and modifications
Operating as a business
To hold a Business licence, you must meet the requirements of the Arms Act 2026.
This means you must:
- have and retain a firearms licence
- be a fit and proper person to carry out the relevant business activities
- deal in arms items responsibly
- have secure storage facilities appropriate for your business activities enabling you to store the arms items you intend to deal in safely and securely
- conduct your business activity with the skill and care it demands
- oversee all the activities of your business
- have appropriate written policies and procedures to guide your employees
- establish and maintain an effective record-keeping system for your business
- oversee arms item stock responsibly.
Business licences | Arms Act 2026, Part 3, Subpart 2 | New Zealand Legislation website
Surrendering your Business licence
A business can surrender (give up) their Business licence at any time.
It is also a condition of all business licences that you let us know as soon as is reasonably practicable if you do not want to continue operating as a business or cannot meet the conditions of your licence. You must surrender your Business licence on the day you stop running your business.
To surrender your licence, fill in the notice of surrender of business licence form and hand it in with your Business licence card to a Police station.
If you surrender your Business licence (or allow it to expire), you must immediately surrender to Police all of your business records that have not been entered into the Firearms Registry.
You must also make a plan for disposing of your business arms items and ammunition and discuss it with us. Any of those items in your possession at the time of surrender (or expiry or revocation) will need to be disposed of within 3 months (unless the Chief Executive agrees to a longer period) to a person approved by Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand (FSE).
Surrender of licence | Arms Act 2026, Part 3, Section 140 | New Zealand Legislation website
Information about business employees
When an employee starts
You must give us the name and firearms licence number of each new employee who has access to arms items or ammunition at your premises.
Your employee’s firearms licence is linked to the record of them you give, which we include with your business licence.
Email: firearms.NST@firearmssafety.govt.nz
When an employee leaves
You must notify your local arms office when an employee with access to firearms and ammunition stops working at any of your places of business.
If anyone holding an endorsement as your employee leaves, both you and the employee must let us know.
When a manager changes
You must also notify your local arms office when the manager changes at any of your places of business.
You must provide:
- the address of the place of business
- the date from which the manager is managing your activities at that place of business.
- the name of the manager.
Issue of business licence | Arms Act 2026, Part 3, Section 85 | New Zealand Legislation website
Business employees do not need endorsements
Under the new Arms Act 2026, employees of a firearms business do not need endorsements or permits to possess to handle restricted firearms and other arms items in the course of their duties.
Employees of a firearms business still require a firearms licence to work at a firearms licensed business.
Existing dealer employee endorsement holders do not need to do anything. Endorsements will be removed from licence cards at the next firearms licence renewal or if a new licence card is requested.
Keeping records
Some transactions between business and firearms licence holders must be recorded using the Business Transactions form on our website.
Providing information through the Business Transactions form means we can make sure firearms licence holders are aware of the requirement to register their arms items.
Using the Business Transactions form
As a Business licence holder, you must keep business records at your place of business.
Your business records must include:
- all your transactions as a business
- the arms items, including major parts, and ammunition you receive, sell, supply, or manufacture as a business.
'Supply' includes arms items you:
- hire out
- lease
- lend
- provide to a third party.
'Receive' includes arms items:
- returned to you by the person you hired, leased, or provided them to
- left with you temporarily – for repair, for example.
New Registry obligations
Under the Arms Act 2026, Business licence holders need to ensure information about arms items in their possession is recorded in the Arms Registry.
Some Business licence holders (formerly Dealer licence holders) who have not previously provided information to the Arms Registry, may be required to provide this information by 24 June 2029 to help keep the Registry complete and up to date.
What the Firearms Registry means for business
Obligation to provide information to arms registry | Arms Act 2026 - Section 361 | New Zealand Legislation website
Obligations relating to registry | Arms Act 2026 - Section 30 | New Zealand Legislation website
Record-keeping requirements in detail
Your purchases and acquisitions
Ammunition
You must record:
- type – for example, safety ammunition, other (please describe)
- quantity (rounds) acquired of each type.
Arms items
You must record:
- if it’s a firearm or airgun
- if it’s a restricted weapon
- type – for example, rifle, pistol, shotgun, machine gun
- make
- model
- action type
- calibre/gauge
- identification markings (such as a serial number).
Standard magazines
You must record:
- type – for example, non-detachable, detachable box, drum, belt
- capacity (rounds).
Restricted magazines
You must record:
- if the magazine is detachable
- identification markings (such as a serial number).
Major firearm parts
Major firearm parts are the frame, receiver, or upper receiver and lower receiver of a firearm, the frame of a pistol, or the calibre conversion component or kit of a pistol.
You must record:
- identification markings (unless the part is incorporated or integrated into a firearm at time of delivery).
If your supplier is from New Zealand
You must record:
- the date the ammunition or arms item was received
- the supplier’s business or firearms licence number, including the version number (unless the item is an airgun received from a person aged 18 or over)
- the supplier’s business name, business name and licence holder’s name (this must be their full name when the item is an airgun purchased by a person aged 18 or over).
You do not need to record the name of person who has surrendered an arms item to you under section 343 of the Arms Act providing you hand over this item to Police within 5 working days. See:
If your supplier is overseas
You must record:
- the seller’s full name (or company name)
- the seller’s address or location.
You must also record the following from your permit to import:
- serial number
- issue date
- issued by QID/office location
- date importation landed in New Zealand
- port importation landed at
- date importation reported to Police and Police reference
- Regulator Register Entry ID, including transaction ID code and register entry date.
Your sales or deliveries
Ammunition
You must record:
- type – for example, safety ammunition, other (please describe)
- quantity (rounds) acquired of each type.
Arms items
You must record:
- if it’s a firearm or airgun
- if it’s a restricted weapon
- type – for example, rifle, pistol, shotgun, machine gun
- make
- model
- action type
- calibre/gauge
- magazine capacity (rounds, for a firearm with a non-detachable magazine)
- magazine type
- identification markings (except airguns, unless they are a restricted airgun not used in airsoft or paintball sports).
Standard magazines
You must record:
- type – for example, non-detachable, detachable box, drum, belt
- capacity (rounds).
Restricted magazines
You must record:
- if the magazine is detachable
- identification markings (such as a serial number).
Major firearm parts
Major firearm parts are the frame, receiver, or upper receiver and lower receiver of a firearm, the frame of a pistol, or the calibre conversion component or kit of a pistol.
You must record:
- identification markings (unless the part is incorporated or integrated into a firearm at time of delivery).
All arms items and ammunition
You must also record:
- the date the ammunition or arms item was delivered
- the method of delivery
- the buyer’s firearms business or firearms licence number (unless the item is an airgun purchased by a person aged 18 or over who is unlicensed – in this case, record proof of ID/age and number/reference of document)
- the buyer’s business name, business name and licence holder’s name (this must be their full name when the item is an airgun purchased by a person aged 18 or over)
- the buyer’s address (mail order items can only be delivered to the licence holder’s licence address).
If the item is a pistol, restricted firearm, restricted magazine, restricted weapon, or pistol carbine conversion kit
You must also record the following details of the buyer’s permit to possess:
- permit number
- issue date
- issued by Police Member QID/office location.
If you sold the item via mail order
You must also record:
- mail order application number
- mail order issue date
- mail order Police employee QID or office location
- date sent to purchaser
- courier/delivery company name (you must file the proof of receipt, including the signature and name from courier tracking).
Arms items for auction
As well as the information you would normally record for sales and deliveries, you must also record:
- the date and place of the auction
- name of the auctioneer who conducted the auction.
For delivery details, instead of what you would normally record for sales and deliveries, you must record:
- the name and contact details of the purchaser
- the purchaser’s firearms licence number (unless the item is an airgun purchased by an unlicensed person aged 18 or over – in this case, record proof of ID/age and number/reference of document)
- the number of the purchaser’s permit to possess if the item is a pistol, restricted firearm, restricted magazine, restricted weapon, or pistol carbine conversion kit
- the date and method of delivery of the item to the purchaser.
Arms hired to broadcaster, theatrical company, or cinematic, television film, or video recording production company
As well as the information you would normally record for sales and deliveries, you must also record:
- the name and contact details of the theatrical armourer supervising use of the item
- the theatrical armourer’s firearms licence number and the number of the relevant endorsements on the licence
- the address of the theatrical armourer’s usual place of business
- the main physical address of the broadcaster, company, society, or production company using the item
- duration and description of the production.
Note: The theatrical armourer must hold written consent from Police regarding the location of the site of the production and its duration.
Firearms and airguns supplied for shooting or hunting activities
This applies if a licensed business supplies a firearm or an airgun for use for a shooting activity (for example, for use at a shooting range) or a hunting activity where the licensed business provides commercial hunting guide services and all the following apply:
- the firearm or airgun remains in the ownership of the licensed business for the duration of the activity, and
- the firearm or airgun is returned to the possession of the licensed business at the end of the activity, and
- the firearm or airgun is supplied with a quantity of ammunition or airgun projectiles as part of the cost of the activity, or the person to whom the firearm or airgun is supplied provides their own ammunition or projectiles.
Note: Shooting activities exclude paintball shooting and airsoft shooting.
You must record the information you would normally record for sales and deliveries.
For delivery details, instead of what you would normally record for sales and deliveries, you must record:
- the date and place of the shooting activity
- the name and contact details of all individuals participating in the shooting activity
- each participant’s firearms licence number or, if a participant does not have a firearms licence, the participant’s full name and date of birth.
- the firearms licence number of each person providing supervision to participants using firearms or airguns without a firearms licence.
The person providing supervision of participants must sight photographic evidence of the participant’s identity, or their firearms licence before providing them with airguns or firearms.
Airguns supplied for airsoft or paintball sports
This applies if a licensed business hires out airguns for a specified period (a session) for use in any of following activities at a commercial sports venue, and the airguns are not taken outside of that venue:
- airsoft games
- paintball games
- military simulation activities.
You must record the information you would normally record for sales and deliveries, except for delivery details, where you must instead record the:
- names of the persons issued with airguns for the session
- number of airguns issued at the beginning of the session
- number of airguns returned at the end of the session.
Inspections
You must allow Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand to inspect your business arms items and the premises where they are kept if you possess:
- firearms (includes pistols and restricted firearms)
- restricted weapons
- airguns
- restricted magazines
- restricted parts
- pistol carbine conversion kits (PCCKs).
We will also:
- check stocks of arms items held under permits to import or possess
- compare stocks with Police records to make sure they match. We may inspect these arms items and how they are stored. You must also let us inspect and copy your business book and transaction records for all arms items and ammunition. Failing to provide this information or to permit inspection is an offence.
We may also ask you to provide other information you have about dealings with arms items and ammunition (including major firearm parts).
Transporting arms items and ammunition
You must keep your arms items and ammunition at your place of business, unless:
- those arms items and ammunition are being delivered to the premises of a licence holder whose licence allows them to possess them
- you have conditions on your licence allowing you to transport these arms items and ammunition to another place of business, like another place of business, a gunsmith's premises, or a gun show
- you have written permission from Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand to move arms items and ammunition for a specific occasion, like a theatrical production.
Secure storage and display guidance
All firearms business and ammunition sellers are subject to conditions that require the safe and secure storage of firearms and ammunition stored and displayed in their premises, and the condition of the premises.
Selling arms items and ammunition via mail order or over the internet
You must receive a mail order form directly from Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand, that has been endorsed by Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand, before selling the following items via mail order or over the internet:
- standard firearms that do not require an endorsement
- standard magazines
- standard firearm parts (except between business, unless the part is the action of a firearm)
- pistol carbine conversion kits
- airguns (apart from airguns for airsoft and paintball sports)
- ammunition.
You must have the correct endorsement to sell the following classes of arms items via mail order or through the internet:
- restricted firearms
- pistols
- restricted weapons
- restricted magazines
- restricted parts.
The buyer of an item from these classes of arms items must have:
- the correct endorsement on their licence
- a permit to possess issued by Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand, and that permit needs to specify the courier that delivers the item.
Acceptance and handling of surrendered items
As a licensed firearms business, you can accept a surrendered standard firearm or any ammunition, retaining these for sale or parts. However, you must record the details of the person surrendering the item.
Should the individual choose not to provide their details, you must notify Firearms Safety and Education NZ within 5 working days of receiving it. FSE may require you to surrender the item to them or Police.
Handling restricted items
A licensed firearm business (and any business employee) who receives a restricted firearm, restricted magazine, pistol, restricted weapon, pistol carbine conversion kit or parts, cannot possess such items for sale purposes unless they have the necessary endorsement and permit to possess.
In cases where you (or your employee) accepts surrendered arms items, you must notify Firearms Safety and Education NZ within 5 working days of receiving it. FSE may require you to surrender the item to them or Police.
Learn more about business obligations under the Arms Act 2026
Notification requirements for all surrendered arms items
A licensed business that receives any surrendered arms items or ammunition, must notify Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand within 5 working days of receiving it.
The arms item or ammunition must then be delivered to the nearest Police station if required by Firearms Safety and Education NZ.
This change improves public safety by extending notification requirements to all surrendered arms items and ammunition, ensuring they can be checked for any unlawful involvement or activity.
Identifying arms items you receive
If you receive (including by import) one of these arms items and it does not bear an identification marking, you must mark it with one no more than 30 days after receiving it:
- firearms
- pistols
- pistol carbine conversion kits
- restricted firearms
- restricted magazines
- restricted airguns
- blank-firing guns
- restricted weapons
- major firearm parts.
In unique circumstances, for example, where the arms item is unique or rare, or of significant historical value to New Zealand, you can apply to Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand for a written exemption , to allow you to uniquely identify the arms item by alternative means.
Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand may authorise the unique identification of an arms item in a collection by other means, like:
- stamping or engraving the identification marking on a non-visible area of the frame, receiver, upper receiver, or lower receiver
- firmly attaching to the arms item a tag with the identification marking.
If you are a bona fide collector and want to apply for this exemption, apply to Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand in writing, setting out your reasons and your proposal for alternative means of identification explaining why that proposal is reasonable and appropriate to use in this case.
For the meaning of antique firearm, see:
Interpretation | Arms Act 2026, Part 1, Section 5 | New Zealand Legislation website
You do not need to mark:
- restricted airguns for airsoft and paintball sports
- antique firearms
- major firearm parts integrated with firearms with identification numbers.
Identifying arms items you manufacture
You must stamp, cast, or engrave an identification marking on these arms items when you manufacture them:
- firearms
- pistols
- pistol carbine conversion kits (PCCKs)
- restricted airguns
- blank-firing guns
- restricted weapons
- major firearm parts.
Testing arms items
In the course of carrying out your licensed, specified business activities, you may fire these arms items only if you have a condition specified on your licence allowing you do so:
- restricted firearms
- pistols
- restricted weapons.
The business is the only person allowed to carry out the test fire. Upon approval, you will be permitted to fire a maximum of 5 rounds per firearm, however this may be increased up to 10 rounds per firearm on a case by case basis.
You must:
- test firearms only at a shooting range certified by the Commissioner of Police
- meet any other conditions of your licence.
Testing should be carried out with the minimum number of people necessary to ensure the safety of the activity, and with the minimum amount of ammunition necessary to achieve the purpose authorised.
Selling and supplying airguns
You must have a business licence to deal in airguns.
Extended timeframe for repairs and modifications
From 23 February 2028, the timeframe for temporary transactions for repairs and modifications has been extended.
A temporary transaction for repair or modification occurs when the owner of a pistol, restricted weapon, or restricted firearm leaves the item with a licensed business for repair or modification. When this happens, the licensed business must provide information to the Arms Registry about the temporary transaction and any repairs or modifications carried out on the firearm.
The new Arms Act extends the timeframe for these temporary transactions from 7 days to 21 days. This means a licensed business can keep a pistol, restricted weapon, or restricted firearm for up to 21 days for repair or modification without needing a permit to possess.
This change balances the practical time needed for repairs with public safety considerations. The previous 7-day timeframe was often not long enough for repairs to be completed, particularly when replacement parts were required. After 21 days, the licensed business must obtain a permit to possess the item if it remains in their possession.
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