How endorsements work

Certain arms items require a licence holder to hold an endorsement before they can take possession of the items. 

These arms items are:

• pistols
• large-capacity pistol magazines
• restricted weapons
• parts of restricted weapons
• restricted firearms
• restricted magazines
• restricted parts
• pistol carbine conversion kits.

Having an endorsement does not automatically mean you can possess or import any pistol, restricted weapon, restricted firearm or restricted magazine.

You must apply for a permit and be approved for each item. That permit then attaches that item to your endorsement.

If you apply for a permit to possess or import, you must also say why you want to possess or import that specific item.

Your reasons for importing or possessing a specific item must align with the reasons you provided in your endorsement application and the capacity in which you were issued that endorsement. 

Permits

Only certain people can apply for an endorsement.

Pistols and restricted weapons 

You can apply for an endorsement for pistols and restricted weapons only in your capacity as one of the following:

• a licensed business
• a member of an incorporated pistol shooting club that holds a certificate of approval issued under section 218 of the Arms Act
• a bona fide collector of firearms
• a person to whom the pistol or restricted weapon has special significance as an heirloom or memento
• the director or curator of a bona fide museum
• an approved employee or approved member of any body, being:
• a broadcaster within the meaning of the Broadcasting Act 1989; or
• a bona fide theatre company or society or cinematic or television film production company or video recording production company. 

Endorsements | Arms Act 2026, Subpart 1 | New Zealand Legislation website

Restricted firearms and/or magazines 

You can apply for an endorsement for restricted firearms and/or magazines only in your capacity as one of the following:

• a licensed business
• a bona fide collector of firearms
• a person to whom the restricted item has special significance as an heirloom or a memento
• a director or curator of a bona fide museum
• an approved employee or approved member of:
  • a broadcaster within the meaning of the Broadcasting Act 1989; or
  • a bona fide theatre company or society or cinematic or television film production company or video recording production company; or
• as a person who:
  • is employed or engaged by the Department of Conservation and involved in operations for the purpose of controlling wild animals or animal pests in accordance with a specified Act (subject to prescribed limits, if any)
  • is the holder of a concession granted by the Minister of Conservation to undertake wild animal recovery operations in accordance with a specified Act (subject to prescribed limits, if any)
  • is employed or engaged by a management agency as defined in section 100 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 and involved in operations for the purpose of controlling wild animals or animal pests in accordance with that Act (subject to prescribed limits, if any)
  • is a person whose sole business, or a substantial part of whose business, is providing services to control any prescribed wild animals or animal pests, or a person employed or engaged by that person for that purpose (subject to prescribed limits, if any)
  • is a person who is the owner or manager, or is an employee, of an agricultural, a horticultural, or a silvicultural business, if there is a real possibility that the commercial viability of the business would be detrimentally affected to a significant extent by the presence of prescribed wild animals or animal pests on any land used for that business (subject to prescribed limits, if any). 

If you’re applying for or reapplying for a firearms licence or endorsement, you must register all items in your possession within 30 days of submission, including those you have a permit for.

Firearms Registry