Exemptions for strategic goods
The Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade has issued exemptions for the export of certain strategic goods without the need for a permit.
However, if you are exempt from a permit to export you are still required to notify Export Controls, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of any firearm(s) you will be exporting plus any ammunition.
This is to enable New Zealand reporting as required under the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and will only be used for that purpose.
Use the form below to notify the Ministry of exempted firearms you will be exporting.
Full list of exemptions:
(I) Approvals for private individuals to export certain firearms and ammunition
With the exception of the countries listed below, you may export up to five sporting firearms and ammunition without a permit from MFAT if:
- you are taking your own sporting firearms overseas on a hunting holiday; or
- you are a competitor in international shooting contests taking competition sporting firearms overseas for your own use; or
- tourist exports - this exemption no longer applies to firearms purchased by tourists and a permit must now be applied for
- you have been in New Zealand on a hunting holiday you may export your firearms and/or parts that you originally imported with a permit issued by the New Zealand Police; or
- you have been in New Zealand competing in a national or international shooting competition, or you are transiting New Zealand to attend or return from a competition in a third country you may export your firearms and/or parts which you originally imported with a permit issued by the New Zealand Police; and
- you are exporting firearms covered by (a) to (e) above you may export-related ammunition and/or used cartridges. The ammunition/used cartridges must accompany the firearms (this approval does not permit the export of ammunition on its own).
Note:
- Specialised competition semi-automatic pistols are classified as sporting firearms and are therefore exempt.
Countries not covered by exemptions to export here
The exemption to export does not apply to firearms being exported to the following countries:
| American Samoa | Micronesia (Federated States of) | Timor-Leste (East Timor) |
| Cook Islands | New Caledonia | Tokelau |
| Fiji | Niue | Tonga |
| French Polynesia | Palau | Tuvalu |
| Guam | Papua New Guinea | Vanuatu |
| Kiribati | Samoa | Wallis and Futuna |
| Marshall Islands | Solomon Islands |
(II) New Zealand Defence Force, Ministry of Defence, New Zealand Police and Visiting Forces
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), Ministry of Defence (MoD), The New Zealand Police and Visiting Forces (as defined by the Visiting Forces Act 2004) may export the following without a permit from MFAT:
a) stores, equipment, ammunition and explosives for overseas activities in the course of which they may either be consumed, written off, disposed of (subject to meeting end user obligations), or subsequently returned to New Zealand
b) stores, equipment, ammunition and explosives of a Visiting Force
c) equipment/parts for repair, servicing or upgrade, and subsequent return to New Zealand (e.g. ships, vehicles, aircraft, weapons, electronic equipment and their parts).
Note re contractors: with respect to (c) above, NZDF, MoD and NZ Police-owned equipment/parts being exported for repair, servicing or upgrade, and subsequent return to New Zealand, may be exported without a permit from MFAT by a contractor on behalf of, or in the course of providing services to, those organisations.
(III) New Zealand government officials
New Zealand Government officials may temporarily export secure GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) cellular telephones, PDAs (personal digital assistants) and encrypted laptops without a permit from MFAT. These items must be personally carried outside New Zealand by the officials and must be for their own use on official travel.
(IV) Vintage military aircraft
Vintage military aircraft manufactured in or before 1950 may be exported without a permit from MFAT.
Note: Export permits are not required for “Civil aircraft” (including helicopters) as specified in the New Zealand Strategic Good List Definition of Terms, that is – “those 'aircraft' listed by designation in published airworthiness certification lists by the civil aviation authorities to fly commercial civil internal and external routes or for legitimate civil, private or business use”.
(V) Ammunition belonging to a Collector
Members of the New Zealand Cartridge Collectors Club (NZCCC) may export ammunition from New Zealand without a permit from MFAT for exhibition purposes where the combined weight of that ammunition does not exceed five kilograms, and is being exported as accompanied baggage of that member. It is understood that some ammunition may be sold or traded through individual non-commercial sales while the NZCCC member is abroad.
Members of the Australian Cartridge Collectors Association (ACCA) following their attendance at conferences, exhibitions, swap-meets, etc. in New Zealand may export ammunition from New Zealand without a permit from MFAT for exhibition purposes where the combined weight of that ammunition does not exceed five kilograms, and is being exported as accompanied baggage of that member.
(VI) Firearms on visiting vessels
Firearms on visiting vessels which have been surrendered to the Police for safekeeping for the duration of the visit, or have been approved by the Police for secure storage on-board, may be exported without a permit from MFAT.
Firearms transiting New Zealand on vessels which are intended for sale at a subsequent destination are not exempt from the requirement for an export permit, i.e. those firearms in excess of those retained on-board for legitimate security purposes or being transported as part of a commercial shipment.
Exemptions for Catch-all exports
There are also exemptions under the catch-all controls.