Firearms Licensing Review Committee

Establishment of Firearms Licensing Review Committee 

Under the Arms Act 2026, a new Firearms Licensing Review Committee (FLRC) has been established to review decisions made by the Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand (FSE) related to:

  • declining to issue a firearms licence on an application made
  • imposing a condition on a firearms licence
  • revoking a firearms licence

What is the purpose of the Committee?

If an applicant disagrees with the firearms licensing decision, they now have the right to seek a review by an independent committee. The committee is set up to be an independent reviewer outside of the regulator. 

Who are they?

The new FLRC is designed to ensure reviews of licensing decisions are conducted by an independent body. It will be supported by a Secretariat within FSE but will make decisions independently. 

They will review decisions based on information provided by FSE and submissions from the applicant, which can also be provided orally if appropriate. 

Members of FLRC are required to protect the privacy of applicants’ information and must not disclose any material they receive as part of their work.   

How it works

  1. Apply for a review

    Download and complete the form below. An application must be submitted within 90 days of the FSE decision. Applications made outside of this timeframe will not be considered. 

    Application for review of Firearms Licence Refusal, Revocation or Prescribed Conditions (DOCX 3.48 MB)

    If you feel uncomfortable with making a written submission, you can request to make an oral submission which will be provided to the panel to review.  

    Please complete the form in full and send it to FLRC@firearmssafety.govt.nz or submit your application via courier to: 

    PO Box 722, Paraparaumu 5032 SX 10074.

  2. Receive confirmation that your application has been received

    Once your application has been received, you will get an email acknowledgement from the Secretariat and at this point you don’t have to do anything further. The Secretariat will reach out to you directly if they require more information. 

  3. Panel to review your application

    The panels members will come together and review your application and the information provided by the FSE. This might take some time.

  4. Wait for the panel decision

    If the panel members or the Secretariat want more information they will reach out to you. 

  5. Receive outcome of the application

    Once the panel has decided the outcome of your application, you will receive an outcome letter via email with the decision and reasoning behind this decision.

Who can apply?

  • Anyone who has been declined a firearms licence application, 
  • has an imposed condition on their licence, or
  • has had their firearms licence revoked.  

What is the timeframe for the application to be reviewed?

It will be case by case basis. The timeframe of which the panel will decide is based on several factors e.g. how much information is given, what is being discussed etc.

What if you’ve already applied for a review before 23 September?

A person who submits a s.62 review prior to Day One, where a final decision has not been made, will be passed to the Firearms Licensing Review Committee to make the decision.

A refused person or revoked licence holder who undergoes a s.62 review prior to Day One, could appeal the decision to the District Court under the 1983 Act provisions. Any other decision against a licence holder under the 1983 Act that does not require a s.62 review, could still be appealed to District Court under the 1983 Act provisions.

Is my information safe?  

Your information will be kept safe through a secure SharePoint folder that only a certain group of people can access from Firearms Safety and Education in order to securely share with the members of the Firearms Licensing Review Committee who will be reviewing your application. 

How much does it cost?

At this current time, there is no cost to undergo a review through the Committee.

What happens if there’s conflict of interest?

If a Conflict of Interest is identified for any panel members assigned to your application (e.g. if a member of the panel is someone you know, or feels they are unable to make an impartial decision for any other reason), the Secretariat will work with the panel members to ensure a safe and fair review of your application. This may involve members recusing themselves, or members of the panel being reassigned.

Who are the panel members?

You can read about the panel members here FLRC Committee Members 

Can someone write my application on my behalf?  

Yes, you may wish to seek legal advice or assistance with your application. Someone else can pull together the application and fill out the form on your behalf. Please indicate on the form that someone else has completed the form on your behalf.

Need further information?  

Please contact FLRC@firearmssafety.govt.nz for further help or to seek more information. 

 

Need help?
phonePhone 0800 844 431 (04 499 2870)
8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday