Can you bring a weapon to New Zealand?

• Weapons

  prohibited

  "All firearms, weapons and ammunition are prohibited in New Zealand without a permit." Authorisation must be obtained from Te Tari Pūreke — Firearms Safety Authority (FSA) or New Zealand Police before travelling with firearms, weapons, ammunition, or firearm parts. The same permit requirement covers airguns, stun devices, pepper spray, and various knife types — none of these can simply be declared and allowed through; a permit obtained in advance is required.

  NZ Customs places the burden of verifying permit requirements on the traveller or importer before arrival — there is no on-arrival process to obtain a permit you didn't already have. Ordinary pocket/kitchen knives packed in checked luggage are typically a separate, lower-risk case in practice, but the source's own wording sets a wide 'various knife types' net without a clear-cut personal-use exemption, so travellers should not assume any knife is automatically fine.

  Also covers: weapons, firearms, guns, ammunition, airgun, stun gun, pepper spray, knife, knives

  Checked 2026-09-14 — Source: New Zealand Customs Service — Prohibited and restricted items

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Informational only — not legal advice. Customs rules change; confirm with the official source above before you travel. See update history