Data from the Firearms Safety Authority showed that between January 2024 and November 2025, 63 people in Otago and Southland were denied a firearms licence.
Reasons for denial included family harm incidents, protection orders against applicants, alcoholism, having previously been charged with an imprisonable offence and non-compliance with rules of owning firearms.
Nationally, 550 people were denied firearms licences during that period.
The Firearms Safety Authority has been collating the reasons for a refused firearms licence since October 2023.
Since data started being kept, the two biggest reasons for a denied application were non-compliance and failure to complete firearms safety courses.
Nobody in Otago or Southland had their licence denied for gang affiliations.
Firearms Safety Authority registry and service manager Hope Adams said the application process today was more "rigorous" than it had been in the past.
"It is important that the public of New Zealand trusts the firearms licensing system gives licences to suitable individuals and restricts access to people who could pose a safety risk or want to participate in criminal activity."
She said applicants had to complete and pass firearms safety courses if they had never held a licence or they had not held one for longer than one year.
"On the course, they will undertake a practical training session and be tested on their knowledge of current firearms safety requirements."
It also helped people to stay up to date with the Firearms Safety Code.
Ms Adams said most people in Otago and Southland were successful when applying for their firearms licences. If they were denied, all the reasons were shared with the applicant.
"Firearms licence holders in New Zealand overwhelmingly represent people committed to using and storing firearms safely," she said.
"I believe the wider public can take a lot of confidence from the rigorous nature of our modern licensing system."
In Otago and Southland in 2024 and 2025, 6026 people had their licences approved. Nationally, 43,352 people were approved.
Currently, 223,274 people in New Zealand hold firearms licences and 30,924 of those are in Otago and Southland.
There are about 580,000 total firearms registered in New Zealand.
"We ask a lot of would-be licence-holders who provide us with information about themselves and their situation ... separately we ask referees to verify a person’s suitability," Ms Adams said.
"We acknowledge the co-operation of people through the licensing process, which is key to making sure fit and proper people gain a licence."
