Broadcaster, theatrical, living history, and theatrical armourer endorsements

What arms items can you possess

Once you have a broadcaster, theatrical, living history and theatrical armourer endorsement, you can apply for the endorsed arms item using the necessary permit to import or permit to possess:

- Broadcast productions
- Theatre productions
- Commemorative or re-enactment events
- Cinematic and television film productions
- Video recording productions

What items can be used with blank ammunition

This endorsement can allow you to use with blank ammunition: 

- Pistols
- Restricted weapons
- Restricted firearms
- Restricted magazines

When can the endorsement be used

If you get an endorsement, you can use the endorsed arms items only for the permitted theatrical activity.

You can use the endorsed arms items only in your role as an employee or member of a bona fide theatrical body: 

- Broadcaster - Theatre company or society& - Living history group 
- Cinematic or television film production company 
- Video recording production company. 

These roles include:

- Living history member
- Living history theatrical armourer
- Theatrical armourer. 

Who can apply

To apply for a broadcaster, theatrical, living history, and theatrical armourer endorsement to your firearms licence, you must:

- Be 16 years or older
- Have a New Zealand firearms licence, or be applying for one.

When to apply

You can apply for a broadcaster, theatrical, living history, and theatrical armourer endorsement at the same time you apply for your firearms licence. 

When you get an endorsement to your licence, you must apply for the necessary Permit.

How long your endorsement is valid for

A broadcaster, theatrical, living history and theatrical armourer endorsement to your firearms licence lasts until your licence ends, or is surrendered or revoked.

An applicant for an endorsement to act as an onsite theatrical armourer

• Must show and prove experience in broadcast, theatre, film, or video production
• Must show and prove deep understanding of engineering and metalworking
• Must show and prove expertise and experience in the firearm modifications relevant to making a safe work environment for cast and crew
• Must show and prove experience writing plans for the health and safety of cast and crew
• Must show and prove experience writing plans for the safe transport and onsite storage of firearms before, during, and after a production.

An applicant for an endorsement to participate in historical re-enactment or commemorative events

• Must have written confirmation they are a member or employee of a bona fide theatrical body, signed by its chief executive
• Must explain why the company must have this arms item to make its productions
• Must give details of their experience in productions handling, and supervising others handling, automatic, semi-automatic and other firearms using blank ammunition.

An applicant must show they know

• The screen sector health and safety guidelines, at ScreenSafe
• The Arms Act as it applies to this activity
• How to apply the safety code and Arms Act to the activity they plan to supervise.

An applicant must inform when apply for this endorsement

• In your endorsement application, Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand asks questions you may have answered in previous licence or endorsement applications.
• We ask these questions again to make sure we have the latest information when we review your application.

Your responsibilities

• With a broadcaster, theatrical, living history, and theatrical armourer endorsement, you can handle, store, and use the endorsed arms items only under the supervision of the onsite theatrical armourer in charge of the activity.
   
• The supervising armourer must be appointed by the theatrical body in charge of the activity.
   
• You must not act as an onsite theatrical armourer unless a condition of your endorsement allows you to.
   
• With the right condition to their endorsement, a theatrical armourer can supervise the handling, storage, and use of endorsed arms items hired out by a business for a theatrical activity not at the business place.
   
• If you have this condition to your endorsement, you must also have written consent from Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand to supervise in this way at the site of the theatrical activity.
   
• This consent must describe the theatrical activity and specify its:
  - Location
  - Duration.
   
• Email the information to your regional firearms office. 
  For contact information, see: Contact us
   
• You cannot use an arms item with this endorsement with live ammunition.
   
• You can fire an arms item with this endorsement using blank ammunition only if a suitably experienced person has certified it is safe to do so.
   
• When an arms item with this endorsement is not in use, you must: 
  - Make it inoperable by removing a vital part
  - Keep it in an inoperable condition.
   
• You can store the vital part of a restricted weapon in a separate secure storage at the same address Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand has approved. 
   
• See the:
  Vital parts storage guide 
  Secure storage guide for firearms and ammunition 
   
• You must secure from theft endorsed arms items and blank ammunition when they are:
  - Onsite and not in use
  - Displayed at an event or exhibition.
   
• Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand can add conditions to your endorsement that allow you to carry the endorsed arms items from your home address to a: 
  - Police station
  - Licensed business or gunsmith for repair, maintenance, or sale
  - Organised sale or exhibition for display.
   
• Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand can add conditions when we issue your endorsement that allow you to carry the endorsed arms items:
  - Between their secure storage and the location of the permitted theatrical activity 
  - To other locations that support the endorsement's purpose.
   
• If you want to carry the endorsed arms items to another location, you can apply to Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand at any time for either:
  - An 'endorsement to carry', or
  - A condition to your endorsement.
   
• Endorsements and conditions meet the requirements of the Arms Act 2026, section 258
  Carrying pistol, restricted firearm, restricted magazine, or restricted weapon without authority| Arms Act 2026, Part 6, Section 258 | New Zealand Legislation website
   
• Endorsements are subject to the Arms Act 2026, section 190
  Conditions of endorsements | Arms Act 2026, Part 4, Section 190 | New Zealand Legislation website
   
• When you have an endorsement, you must produce on demand the endorsed arms item to an Arms Officer.
   
• You must allow the member of Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand to:
  - Inspect the arms item and where you keep it
  - Enter your premises to do this inspection at a reasonable time.
   
• The Arms Officer making this inspection must identify themselves and say they are making the inspection under the Arms Act.
   
• They must show identification that confirms they are a member of Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand.