Conditions

Find out about your obligations if you have an endorsement in your capacity as an animal and biosecurity controller.

Usage

You must:

have a genuine need to possess the restricted firearm or restricted magazine
only use the restricted items for controlling wild animals or animal pests and in your approved capacity
only use the restricted item for controlling wild animals or animal pests within the geographical area stated in your conditions
abide by other conditions specific to your situation.

You must tell us if your situation or employment changes.

You must not use restricted firearms or restricted magazines for personal or private hunting.

Secure storage

When the restricted firearm or magazine is not in your immediate physical possession you must keep it in one of the following:

a steel and concrete strongroom of sound construction
a room of stout and secure construction that is adequately secured against unlawful entry
a locked steel safe or steel box or steel cabinet.

The room of stout and secure construction must be in structurally sound condition.

Its doors and their locks, bolts, hinges, and other fastenings must be:

in good condition
secured against unlawful entry.

If the room has windows, skylights, or similar, their locks, bolts, hinges, and other fastenings must be:

in good condition
secured against unlawful entry.

If you are using a steel safe, steel box or steel cabinet, it must be:

of sound construction
bolted or otherwise securely fixed to the building the restricted firearm is kept in.

If you store a restricted firearm or magazine in a steel box, steel cabinet, or steel safe, you must store the ammunition separately.

All secure storage arrangements must be approved by Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand.

For more information, including how to store ammunition, visit:

Storage and transportation of firearms and ammunition

Transporting the endorsed items

You must follow the guidance for transporting firearms and ammunition.

Download the guide:

Storage and transportation of firearms and ammunition

Inspections

If you have an endorsement, under Section 190 you must allow a member of Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand to: 

enter the premises where the pistols are stored for an inspection at a reasonable time 
inspect the pistols and where they are kept on the premises.

The person making the inspection must: 

show identification that confirms they are a member of Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand .
say they are making the inspection under section 190 of the Arms Act 2026
produce evidence that they are a member of the Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand if requested at any subsequent time.

Conditions of endorsement | Arms Act 2026, Part 4, Section 190 | New Zealand Legislation website

Additional conditions

Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand may impose additional conditions regarding the use and custody of any endorsed item.

New multi-user agreements for animal and biosecurity controllers

From 23 February 2028, Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand will introduce multi-user agreements that allow specified employees of animal and biosecurity control to share restricted firearms without requiring a permit to possess or Registry updates for each short-term transfer.

These agreements apply to transfers of less than seven days. Organisations must maintain internal records of all firearm transfers and provide them to the regulator upon request. 

This change will significantly reduce the administrative costs and effort for applicants, who were previously required to update the Registry and obtain a permit for each short-term transfer, particularly when firearms are routinely shared among the same users.

Exception for employees of animal and biosecurity controllers sharing possession of restricted firearms | Arms Act 2026, Part 2, Section 33 | New Zealand Legislation website

Relevant legislation

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