New Arms Act Comes Into Force
23rd September 2026
Today, the Arms Act 2026 comes into force, replacing the Arms Act 1983. Alongside it, the new Arms Regulations 2026 also come into force, setting out the detailed rules that support the Act.
This is the end of a process that started with public consultation in early 2025 and ran through a full select committee. Thousands of licensed firearm owners took the time to write submissions, and a good number of the practical fixes in the final Act came directly out of that.
Links:
Read the Act: Arms Act 2026
Read the Regulations: Arms Regulations 2026
Read the history: Firearms Reform, NZDA Advocacy
Looking Ahead to the Election
With the election coming this November, today is also a good moment to look at what's still unfinished. The clubs and ranges regime has, in practice, frozen many of our ranges rather than supported them. The law should enable clubs and ranges, not restrict them. We've also long held the view that the system should be licensing the person, not the firearm.
Our position hasn't changed, and it's already set out clearly in the submissions we've made. If you want to know where NZDA stands, read our previous submissions and use them when you're talking to candidates this campaign.
Submissions:
What's Next
NZDA will keep advocating for recreational hunters and firearms users, this election and beyond. Thank you for your membership and your support.
