What the Firearms Registry means for business

The business record-keeping obligations ensure that every movement of a firearm can be traced.

Business licence holders have obligations to record both receipt and supply of a firearm.This is regardless of the time between the receipt and supply of the same firearm. For example, even if for a short time, hours or days.  

Business have always had the obligation to record certain information for every firearm they receive, including when receiving for sale, repair or modification. Then again, when they deliver (hand over or supply). This has previously been done in their business record book (whether a physical book or electronic record).

In June 2023, the required format of this record keeping changed, as Regulation 78 required business to provide their business records directly into the Business Transaction Form.

The particulars that need to be recorded by a business, and when, has not changed, but the format they are required to be provided to the Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand has.

Using the Business Transactions form

Records may be kept in hard copy or electronically | Arms Regulations 2026, Part 4, Reg 78 | New Zealand Legislation website

Business record keeping complements licence holder Registry obligations

Business record keeping is a separate obligation to a firearms licence holder’s Registry obligation.

However, the business record keeping via the Business Transaction Form helps inform the Agency when an individual licence holder has received or supplied a firearm, and whether that transfer is a temporary transfer or not.

Temporary transfers versus enduring transfers

If, through the Business Transaction Form, the Agency sees that the transfer was a temporary transfer (because there will be a business record of the receipt of a firearm and then the supply back of the same firearm to the licence holder), then the licence holder will not have an activating circumstance.

However, if through the Business Transaction Form, the Agency sees that the transfer to the business was not temporary, then this will trigger an activating circumstance for the licence holder. The Agency will be able to follow-up with the licence holder if they fail to complete their Registry obligations.

If you’re a business, you can expect Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand to contact you with more information about what you need to do.

We'll work with each business to:

• get information so the Chief Executive can determine a reasonable time frame for you to start operating in the Registry
• make sure you have the information you need to register your business stock.

Once you have registered your business stock, you must update your information in the Registry every time you supply, receive or manufacture a specified arms item.