The Government has replaced the 1983 Arms Act, which represents the most significant overhaul of firearms legislation in decades.

The new law received Royal Assent on 5 August 2026. It reduces complexity and compliance around aspects of licensing and firearms ownership. Firearms are an essential tool for hunters, so these changes are welcome.

Hunters have a strong interest in preventing firearms ending up in the hands of criminals – something the new law is more specifically targeted at.

How the changes are implemented will be important and the GAC remains committed to supporting fair and reasonable implementation and regulation. The GAC also looks forward to working closely with the new regulator, Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand to ensure that hunters needs are represented.

Most of the changes will come into force on 23 September, with some provisions coming into force progressively by 23 February 2028. People with existing firearms licenses and endorsements will not have to do anything on day one when the law commences. The same goes for those with firearms license application in our system. These will continue on.

Notable changes that impact the hunting sector include:

  • Separating firearms regulation from police and the creation of a new arms regulator.
  • Establishing an independent firearms licencing review committee.
  • Extending pest control endorsements to five years and allowing multi-user agreements for short term transfers of restricted firearms.
  • Removing the need for a permit to possess for short-term business activities such as taking a firearm to a gunsmith for less than 21 days.
  • Removing the ability for the regulator to include information in the firearms registry that is not required by regulations.
  • Allowing multi-entry visitor licences of up to 18 months.
  • Allowing health-related suspensions for up to 12 months so individuals have time to obtain medical reports, implement mitigations, or seek help.
  • Enabling infringement powers for low-level non-compliance.
  • Disqualifying gang members from holding a firearms licence.
  • Increasing penalties for some offences and creating eight new offences, including ones to reduce firearms entering the black market.

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