Information for health practitioners

A fit and proper person: 

• is a person of good conduct and character 
• holds a firearms licence responsibly 
• stores firearms and ammunition securely 
• abides by the laws of New Zealand. 

When Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand assesses if someone is a fit and proper person, we consider: 

• their overall character and conduct 
• information provided by the applicant and their referees 
• information we hold or receive from any source. 

The Arms Act 2026 gives some circumstances in which Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand  may find the applicant or licence holder not a fit and proper person to hold a firearms licence. If any of these circumstances apply, we do not automatically refuse the application.  

We will probably have more questions if: 

• The applicant has been charged with or convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment 
• The applicant has been charged with or convicted of an offence under the Arms Act 2026, against section 231A of the Crimes Act 1961, or against the Game Animal Council Act 2013, the Wildlife Act 1953, or the Wild Animal Control Act 197
• The applicant has had a temporary protection order made against them under section 79 of the Family Violence Act 2018, or section 14 of the Domestic Violence Act 1995 
• there are grounds for a protection order under the Family Violence Act 2018 
• The applicant has had a restraining order made against them under the Harassment Act 1997 
• The applicant has not complied with the requirements of the Arms Act 2026, regulations made under the Arms Act, or the conditions of a permit, licence, or endorsement issued to them under the Arms Act 
• The applicant has been a member or affiliated with a gang or organised criminal group 
• The applicant has exhibited, encouraged, or promoted violence, hatred, or extremism 
• The applicant has been assessed as a risk to national security 
• The applicant has a mental or physical illness or injury that affects their ability to safely possess firearms 
• The applicant has abused alcohol or been dependent on alcohol 
• The applicant has used drugs that affect their judgement or behaviour. 

If Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand has a reason to find the applicant is not a fit and proper person, we will tell them the reason and give them an opportunity to refute or comment on it. (Some exemptions apply.)  

Who is eligible to apply

‘Reason to believe’ is not defined in the Arms Act 2026. However, it can be interpreted to mean that you must form your belief based on facts – the belief need not be proven correct later. 

Examples of facts that could lead to a practitioner having reason to believe a patient is a firearms licence holder include: 

• notification by the patient themselves, or the patient’s whа̄nau, that the patient holds a firearms licence 
• the firearms licence status is recorded in the patient’s medical records 
• the patient owns, or suggests they have access to firearms, and the practitioner does not have any reason to believe this ownership or access is unlawful; in which case they must be a licence holder 
• certain leisure activities (for example, membership of a pistol club) or occupations (for example, wild animal or animal and biosecurity controller, farm worker). 

There is no exhaustive list of health conditions that may be relevant to safe possession and use of firearms. 

What is important, is whether the health condition is developing or manifesting itself (or is likely to) in such a way that, in the interests of individual or public safety, the person: 

• should not continue to possess firearms 
• should not continue to possess firearms for a specified period until the health condition or disability no longer impacts on their fit and proper status 
• should only possess firearms on certain conditions – for example, firearms should only be used under supervision or firearms only be stored under another licence holder’s control. 

Examples of the sorts of health conditions or disabilities that may lead to a consideration of referral to Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand (depending on public and individual safety considerations) could include:  

• mental health issues of any kind, including depression, stress, anxiety, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, or psychosis, especially if they are poorly controlled or escalating in severity  
• development of suicidal thoughts or feelings 
• serious head injury or neurological conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Multi System Atrophy 
• seizures, dizziness, blackouts 
• alcohol or other drug misuse or dependence to the extent it affects their judgement or behaviour 
• decline in functioning of memory, thinking, understanding, and judgement 
• exhibiting or reporting behaviour suggesting anger or violence (including previous or current family harm) 
• drowsiness or problems with cognition, secondary to a health condition or medication 
• any physical condition that would make handling firearms unsafe, for example, visual or hearing impairment, poor mobility, increased risk of falls. 

This list is designed to emphasise the wide spectrum of medical conditions and health states that may impact significantly on the ongoing propriety of an individual having a firearms licence. It is not exhaustive, and practitioners should consider notifying Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand about any patient that they have concerns about. 

This information relates to section 71 of the Arms Act 2026:

Persons who may be found not fit and proper to hold firearms licence | Arms Act 2026, section 71 | New Zealand Legislation website

You need to provide: 

• patient name 
• patient date of birth 
• your opinion that in the interests of the safety of individuals or the public, the licence holder should not be permitted to use or possess a firearm, subject to any limitations that may be warranted by the health conditions of the licence holder 
• whether you believe the licence holder poses an immediate or imminent danger of self-harm or harm to others 

Only provide information that is relevant to your opinion. 

The information you provide is not the only piece of information Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand can consider when deciding on someone’s fit and proper status to hold a firearms licence. In many cases, we will also consider information from other sources before reaching a decision. 

A member of Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand will contact you when your report has been received. This is an opportunity for you to raise any other concerns and discuss the next steps.  

After being notified, Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand may decide to: 

1. Require a licence holder to undergo a further medical assessment by another health practitioner.

The licence holder must either:

• undergo the further assessment; or
• surrender their licence under Section 146

2. Commence suspension or revocation actions under the Arms Act:

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

Revocation of firearms licence | Arms Act 2026, Part 3, Section 153 | New Zealand Legislation website

Does the licence holder know you have made a notification to Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand? 

If the licence holder requests this information, it will be provided, unless there is a risk to a person’s safety, in which case it will be withheld.