Changes for Museums and museum workers

Under the Arms Act 2026, museum curators/managers or directors of bona fide museums, who hold a firearms licence, can apply for a new Museum licence, no longer requiring a Business licence (previously known as a Dealer Licence).

The Museum licence allows for the public display and exhibition of arms items, with conditions tailored to reflect the specific risks associated with their public display.

People who held a Dealer's licence before 23 September 2026 as a museum curator or manager are considered Museum licence holders and are not required to obtain a Museum licence. 

When their licence is due for renewal, they will need to apply for a Museum Licence, which will then replace their Dealer's Licence.

Museum Licence

Application for museum licence | Arms Act 2026, Section 100 | New Zealand Legislation website

Under the Arms Act 2026, museum employees who handle arms items as part of their job can apply for a Museum Worker licence, as an alternative to a standard firearms licence.

The Museum Worker licence allows museum employees to handle arms items at their place of employment, but does not permit personal ownership or possession.

If an employee already holds a firearms licence they will not be required to also obtain a museum worker licence.

Museum worker licence

Application for museum worker licence | Arms Act 2026, Section 112 | New Zealand Legislation website

A first-time Museum Worker Licence is valid for five years from the date of issue. 

Subsequent Museum Worker Licences are valid for 10 years from the date of issue.

Museum worker licence

Duration of museum worker licence | Arms Act 2026 | New Zealand Legislation website

Under the Arms Act 2026, museum workers operating under a firearms licence or a museum worker licence do not need endorsements or permits to handle or possess endorsed items in their capacity as museum workers.

The change clarifies that this applies to individuals working in a museum with a museum worker licence or a firearms licence, and only when acting in their capacity as museum workers. 

Museum worker licence

Requirements for museum workers | Arms Act 2026 | New Zealand Legislation website

Under the Arms Act 2026, museums licence holders need to ensure that information about museum arms items in their possession is recorded in the Arms Registry. 

As Museum licences are a new licence type under the Arms Act 2026, some Museum licence holders may need to provide information about arms items in their possession to the Arms Registry by 24 June 2029, to help keep the Registry complete and up to date.

The extension of this timeframe by one year (previously scheduled for 2028) will allow the new digital Arms System to be developed, which is expected to simplify how businesses and organisations register their arms items.

Using the Business Transactions form

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