Lost, stolen or destroyed

Find out what to do if your firearm is lost or stolen, or if you want to destroy or dispose of a firearm.

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If your firearm is lost or stolen

In an emergency, call 111 and ask for Police. 

You must contact an arms officer or Police immediately if any of the following items are lost or stolen:

  • standard firearm
  • pistol
  • large-capacity pistol magazine
  • pistol carbine conversion kit
  • restricted item
  • major firearm part
  • restricted weapon

Providing as much information as possible will help Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand process your report. 

Report that a firearm has been lost or stolen:

Providing information for the Firearms Registry

If you held a firearms licence, you're required to provide information for the Registry the first time an activating circumstance happens. Activating circumstances include reporting the loss, theft or destruction of an arms item.

For more information, see Firearms Registry

Destroying an arm item

If you are considering destroying an arm item, contact your local Police station or your local Arms Office to discuss your options.

You may be able to hand in the item to Police for it to be destroyed.

Disposal of illegally held or unwanted firearms

If you have a firearm, or other arms item that you cannot legally possess or no longer want, you can transfer it to a business or hand it over to Police. Find out how to surrender or dispose of unwanted firearms, other arms items or ammunition.
 

If you have already destroyed a firearm or firearm part

You must contact Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand immediately if you have destroyed any firearm, restricted magazine, restricted part or restricted weapon.

As well as describing why and how the firearm was destroyed, you must provide the following details:

  • your full name
  • firearms licence number
  • manufacturer
  • make
  • model
  • serial number
  • calibre.

If possible, include documents or photos that show the item before and after destruction.

If the firearm was a pistol, a pistol carbine conversion kit, a restricted arms item, or a restricted weapon, Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand will follow up your report and arrange for the destroyed item to be collected or delivered for disposal.

 

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