New Law Eases Rules for Shooting Clubs While Strengthening Firearms Safety

Government Passes Landmark Firearms Law Overhaul to Support Shooting Clubs and Ranges While Strengthening Public Safety Measures in Phase Two of Firearms Reform.

The New Zealand Government has today passed the Arms (Shooting Clubs, Shooting Ranges, and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2025, marking a significant milestone in its four-phase approach to firearms reform. Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced the legislation as a balanced step toward modernising firearms laws, easing regulatory pressures on shooting clubs and ranges, and enhancing public safety protocols.

“This is an important step towards modernising our firearms laws and ensuring shooting clubs and ranges are fairly regulated in a manner that supports public safety,” McKee said.

The new Act introduces a number of critical amendments to Part 6 of the Arms Act, offering targeted regulatory relief to clubs and ranges while preserving tools necessary for enforcement and oversight.

Key changes under the new Act include:

• A simplified enrolment process for non-pistol shooting clubs and ranges;

• Fewer restrictions on the setup and use of temporary non-pistol shooting ranges;

• Clear guidelines on the timing and frequency of range inspections to reduce uncertainty;

• Multiple smaller amendments designed to lower compliance costs and administrative burden.

Minister McKee emphasised that the legislation aims to strike a fair balance: “The changes made to the Act simplify the regulatory requirements on shooting clubs and ranges, while maintaining public safety requirements. This will provide relief to club and range operators, who have struggled to comply with the unnecessary extra regulatory burden.”

The law was developed after extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders including firearms safety experts, range operators, shooting club members, and public input through the Select Committee process. McKee stated that the engagement process helped ensure the new rules are both practical and effective.

“The Act reflects what we heard from responsible firearms owners and the wider community,” she said. “We have listened to the concerns of New Zealanders and worked to create a law that prioritises safety while ensuring responsible licensed firearms owners are treated fairly.”

The Government confirmed that updates to the Arms Regulations 1992 will be rolled out to reflect the legislative changes, coming into force three months from today when the Act is officially enacted.

This legislation forms Phase Two of the Government’s broader firearms reform strategy. The full four-phase programme aims to modernise firearms governance in New Zealand, culminating in a complete rewrite of the Arms Act 1983.

Phase One focused on strengthening licensing systems and registry controls. With the passage of Phase Two, the Government is now set to progress into Phase Three, which will further address issues related to firearms dealers, importation, and technological updates in firearms monitoring systems.

McKee concluded, “This is not just about reducing red tape—it’s about building a framework that supports legal, safe firearms use while maintaining robust oversight. The final outcome will be a modern, fit-for-purpose Arms Act that New Zealand can be confident in.”