Related licensing information

A person may apply for a review of a decision made by Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand. After reviewing the decision, the newly established Firearms Licensing Review Committee will notify the applicant of its decision.

Under the new Arms Act, the original decision will remain in place until five working days after the applicant has been notified of the Firearms Licensing Review Committee's decision.

This gives both the applicant and the regulator time to consider whether to appeal and allows any necessary administrative processes to take place.

What if you’ve already applied for a review of a licence refusal or revocation?

If you applied for a review before 23 September and a decision has not yet been made, your application will be transferred to the Firearms Licensing Review Committee for a decision.

If you applied for a review before 23 September and your licence was refused or revoked, you can still appeal the decision to the District Court under the Arms Act 1983.

Other decisions made under the Arms Act 1983 that do not require a review can also be appealed to the District Court under the previous Act.

Firearms Licensing Review Committee

Changes for Individual Licence

Reviews of firearms licensing decisions | Arms Act 2026, Part 3, section 80 | New Zealand Legislation website

Appeals to District Court | Arms Act 2026, Part 8, section 356 | New Zealand Legislation website

From 23 February 2028, the suspension period for a firearms licence due to mental health reasons will be extended to 12 months.

Previously, suspensions were limited to three months, a period that was often insufficient to obtain medical reports or implement appropriate mitigations.

Extending the suspension period will provide greater flexibility and ensure licence holders have sufficient time to seek medical advice and address any concerns, while maintaining public safety. 

When licence may be suspended | Arms Act 2026, Part 3, section 146 | New Zealand Legislation website