Instructional weapon-making
It can be a crime to make or possess weapons in New Zealand without a valid licence, permit, or other authorisation.
It can also be against New Zealand law to make, possess, or share instructions for how to create weapons.
Weapons are objects that are used to commit violence, injury or death and can include explosives, firearms, incendiary devices (IEDs), chemical weapons, and weaponised drones.
This page tells you what New Zealand law (the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993) says about instructional weapon-making content and what you can do if you come across it.
This information is for general understanding and awareness. It is not legal advice.
At a glance
- Instructions for making weapons can be illegal in New Zealand. This includes content that promotes or encourages crime, violence or terrorism.
- Content can take many forms. It may include text, images, videos, audio or step-by-step instructions.
- AI-generated, animated or fictional content can still be illegal. What matters is the content and what it encourages, not how it was made.
- If you come across content you think may be illegal, don't save or share it. Report it through the platform, NZ Police, the Department of Internal Affairs or Netsafe, depending on the content and circumstances.
This information page answers the following questions about instructional weapon making content and classification in New Zealand
What is instructional weapon making content?
What is instructional weapon making content?
Instructional weapon-making content can be images, videos, text, audio or any online content showing things like recipes or step by step instructions on how to create a weapon. The Classification Act treats Artificial Intelligence (AI), Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI), and animated instructional weapon-making in the same way as real-life content. This includes content that has been edited, altered or manipulated using artificial intelligence tools. Even if content is fake, it can still be followed if it is accurate. Even content that is not accurate can still be harmful and potentially dangerous. You can read more about AI and the law here.
Is instructional weapon making content illegal?
In New Zealand, the main laws that deal with the making and possession of weapons include the Arms Act 1983, Crimes Act 1961 and Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996. Some weapons are illegal and others are heavily regulated, requiring a licence, permit or some other authorisation.
Content that gives instructions for weapon making may be restricted or illegal under the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993. There are serious legal consequences for making, possessing, or sharing objectionable content.
What types of weapon-making instructions are illegal or restricted?
Not all instructional weapon-making content will be illegal. However, content that provides detailed, practical guidance on creating illegal weapons or carrying out acts of violence, crime, or terrorism is likely to be illegal or have restrictions. This can include:
- Instructions on how to create explosives, incendiary devices (IEDs), and chemical weapons using readily available materials (or how to source less readily available materials).
- Instructions for creating weapons that are illegal or highly regulated in New Zealand, including 3D-printed guns.
- Instructions on how to modify weapons.
- Instructions for creating or operating weaponised drones.
- Instructions or directions on how to commit crime, terrorism, or violence with a created weapon, how to harm people and/or property, and/or how to evade law enforcement while committing that crime.
What does “promote or encourage” mean?
Instructional weapon making content may be illegal if it promotes or encourages criminal acts or acts of terrorism. In this context, promote or encourage means content that encourages people to use illegal weapons to harm people or property.
It can include instructions on how to create illegal weapons and how to use them.
Is all instructional weapon making content illegal? What about fiction, satire, or news reporting?
References to weapon making in fiction, film, or other forms of entertainment are unlikely to be illegal, unless they promote or encourage criminal acts, acts of violence or terrorism. In some cases, an age restriction may apply because the content could be harmful for younger audiences (for example, an R16 film.)
Why or where might people come across weapon-making instructions?
Like any content, people can come across weapon-making instructions in a variety of ways – for example, on social media feeds, websites, messaging apps, or by being shown content in person. Content might be unwanted or show up unexpectedly, or people might seek it out intentionally.
About the Classification Office’s role and how the law works
The Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 balances freedom of expression with protecting people from harm – especially children and young people.
Every piece of content the Classification Office sees is different. To decide whether something is illegal, we must consider each one on its own merits and carefully apply the Act and the principles of fairness and natural justice. There are serious penalties for offences under the Act, which is why decisions about content are made by trained experts at the Classification Office. Guided by the Act, we follow a very transparent and fair process before making a decision.
You can read more about our classification process here.