Gun Safe Specials

Security specifications

This section outlines the required standards for the security of pistols, military-style semi-automatic firearms and restricted weapons. The security precautions are to be in place, inspected, and approved by a member of police before you take possession of any pistol, MSSA firearm, or restricted weapon. You cannot make an application for any permit to acquire or import a firearm until you hold the required general endorsement, and police have inspected your security.

The licence holder is responsible for demonstrating that their secure storage complies with the official New Zealand Standard used by Police. This relates to material and construction of the cabinet/receptacle/safe, and to locking mechanisms. Where materials, a method of construction or locks do not comply with the Standard, police will require certification of the receptacles' performance as equal to the Standard. Certification is to be by police recognised professional. Obtain detailed information from your local Police Arms Officer before purchasing or installing your secure storage.

Certificate of Compliance

A Certificate of compliance supplied by an accredited person is to meet or exceed the following minimum standard. The certificate:

• sighted by Police must be the original thereof – not a copy or facsimile. Note: Suppliers may establish the validity of a certificate with police Arms Officers and subsequently supply customers with a copy for presentation at the time of the police inspection of their security;
• must establish the credentials of the accredited person or persons who are supplying the certification;
• must be under the hand of the accredited person or persons, and contain a reference to the examiner’s trade, guild or professional qualifications and the currency of their practising certificate;
• is to be dated and valid for no more than 24 months from the date of examination, and in any case will become void if the specifications or method of manufacture of the receptacle change, or it is established by police that the receptacle has failed to perform as required;
• is to describe the materials used in the receptacle, including the type and thickness of the steel used, and the type of locks installed (including the published national standard to which the locks are manufactured);
• is to provide sufficient detail for police to assess how the receptacle complies with the standards set out in Police Form POL67N (PDF 208KB - FORM UPDATE IN PROGRESS) (Conditions and Requirements for firearms licences and endorsements)
• is to detail the variations from the POL67N requirements and explain how these variations are the same as or superior to the standards in Form POL67N (PDF 208KB - FORM UPDATE IN PROGRESS).

NZ Code Compliant Gun Safes

Steel boxes and cabinets (Regulation 28 (1) (c)

Steel boxes or steel cabinets shall be capable of withstanding a reasonable physical attack with hand-held tools and weapons, and equivalent to 6 mm mild steel strength. The box or cabinet should be built and finished in a workmanlike manner with negligible gaps between all fixed parts. Where it is proposed to construct cabinets or boxes of a single plate dimension measuring less than 6 mm mild steel or a variety of steel other than mild, consultation must take place with a registered engineer to confirm compliance with the performance-based criteria. A certificate of compliance from the registered engineer must be provided in these circumstances.

Two locking mechanisms of no less strength and security performance than a five-lever mortise deadlock complying with BS3621:2004 or subsequent amendment shall be fitted to the cabinet door. Owing to the reduced size of a steel box designed solely for pistol storage together with the capability for concealment, only one locking mechanism is required. Any door handle fitted shall be designed to break off under leverage.

Drawings (reference C2191) can be obtained from an Arms Office. These give design and fixing recommendations.

A cabinet should be bolted to a minimum of two surfaces.

One of which shall be the floor. Bolt shafts shall be a minimum of 10 mm in diameter and when bolted into concrete, expanding or chemical setting bolts may be used. Where the cabinet is bolted to a wooden floor it shall be through-bolted to a steel plate which exceeds the floor area of the cabinet and is retained on at least two-floor joists. All nuts must be on the inside of the cabinet, and bolts welded or burred to resist removal. It is recommended that the cabinet or box be bolted in a confined space, such as a wardrobe or cupboard.