Ministry of Justice

New regulations to support implementation of the Arms Act 2026 have been gazetted and will come into force on 23 September 2026 – the same day most provisions of new Act come into effect and the new arms regulator is established. 

The Arms Regulations 2026 repeal and replace the Arms Regulations 1992 and were signed into law by the Governor-General, Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, earlier this week.  

The regulations play an important role in the firearms regulatory framework, setting detailed rules to support the day-to-day operations needed to make the Act work in practice once most of the law comes into force.  

The 2026 regulations, which have been written in plain English to make it easier for everyone to know their responsibilities, also provide important new rules and requirements to support the implementation of changes introduced through the Act, including: 

• Requirements for the new museum and museum worker licences to support a smooth transition to the new regulatory system. 

• Minor amendments to the shooting clubs and ranges regulations, including reducing the annual participation requirements from 12 to 10 shooting events for pistol endorsement holders.
• Criteria and requirements that the new independent arms regulator, Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand (FSE), will consider for the new multi-entry visitor licence to help ensure it has the information it needs to assess the suitability of applicants.
• Requirements for approved commercial ammunition sellers to provide greater alignment across the firearms regulatory system. 

The Arms Regulations 2026 (and three orders supporting implementation) will come into force on 23 September 2026, the same day that most of the Act also comes into force.   The remaining provisions of the Act will come into force by 23 February 2028.  

It is also the date that Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand, as the new regulator of New Zealand’s firearms system, is established, replacing the Firearms Safety Authority(external link).