First digital firearms registry in the pipeline

The regulations mean licence holders can now see how the new Registry will work and what information they will need to start providing from 24 June 2023.

Te Tari Pūreke – Firearms Safety Authority executive director, Angela Brazier, says most firearms owners will have up to five years to record all firearms and other relevant arms items in their possession into the new Registry.

However, in some cases, licence holders will need to provide information for the Registry in a shorter timeframe.

For example, if they buy a firearm, they will be required to register it as soon as practicable, within 30 days, as well as all remaining arms items.

“The Registry will give licence holders more confidence when buying or selling firearms, as it will let them know if they are dealing with a current licence holder and if the firearm they are looking to buy has been stolen,” says Brazier.

She adds that there is no fee charged to register firearms.

“The fastest and easiest way licence holders will be able to register when the new system activates on 24 June is through our website using the MyFirearms portal from our website homepage www.firearmssafetyauthority.govt.nz,” Brazier says.

Those who can’t or prefer not to access the internet will be able to provide their information over the phone, through the authority’s call centre.

Brazier says the Firearms Safety Authority will from today be sharing detailed information to the licenced firearms community about the operation of the Registry, and what they need to know, with an advertising campaign set to begin shortly.

The Firearms Registry is being developed and rolled out in stages.

For firearms dealers this means from 24 June, 2023, they will be required to record transactions with individual firearms licence holder at the time of sale, using the online Dealer Transaction form on the Firearms Safety Authority website.

However, the requirement for dealers to register all stock in the dealer’s possession and provide transfer information will come later; and ammunition sellers will continue to record ammunition sales to licence holders in their record books.

“We will be working closely with dealers over the coming weeks so they know what they will need to do from 24 June 2023,” says Brazier.