List of individual weapons of the New Zealand Defence Force

The following are lists of individual weapons used by the New Zealand Defence Force.

Assault rifles, sniper rifles

Currently In service

Name	Origin	Type	Calibre	image	Details
Lewis Machine and Tool MARS-L	United States	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO		Adopted in 2015 to replace the Steyr AUG as the standard service rifle of the New Zealand Army. This weapon comes in 2 different barrel lengths and can take many modular attachments hence the name given by the NZDF to this rifle the Modular Assault Rifle System - Light (this is the same with LMT's own MARS-L, but is referred as the Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System - Light instead for its US civilian models). The rifle is generally equipped with the Trijicon ACOG scope with an RMR red dot mounted on top. Most recent design upgrade with enhanced features based on the AR-15/M4/M-16 family of firearms. Equipped with M7 bayonet.
Lewis Machine and Tool 308 MWS	United States	Designated marksman rifle, Sniper rifle	7.62x51mm NATO		The New Zealand Army adopted the rifle in October 2011. It differs from its UK counterpart in the use of a Leupold adjustable 4.5-14× scope, canted iron sights and a foldable foregrip. [1]
Barrett MRAD	United States	Bolt action sniper rifle	7.62x51mm NATO .338 Lapua Magnum		Introduced in 2018 to replace the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare 7.62×51mm bolt action sniper rifle. [2] Equipped with an ATACR 5-25×56 F1 Nightforce scope. Dual calibre configuration with 7.62×51mm NATO for training and .338 Lapua Magnum for operations. [3]
Barrett M107A1	United States	Anti-materiel sniper rifle	12.7×99mm NATO		A semi-automatic sniper and anti-materiel rifle chambered in .50 BMG. [4] [5]
M4 carbine	United States	Assault rifle, Carbine	5.56×45mm NATO		Used by New Zealand Special Air Service. [6] [7] [8]

Retired

Name	Origin	Type	Calibre	Image	Details
Steyr AUG F88 Austeyr	Austria Australia	Bullpup assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO		It was available in three barrel lengths: 350 mm, 407 mm, and 508 mm. [9] Replaced by LMT Mars L.
Accuracy International Arctic Warfare	United Kingdom	Bolt action sniper rifle	7.62x51mm NATO		Retired Sniper Rifle Replaced By Barrett MRAD
Accuracy International AW50F	United Kingdom	Anti-materiel sniper rifle	12.7×99mm NATO
M16A1	United States	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO
L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle	United Kingdom Australia	Battle rifle	7.62x51mm NATO
Parker Hale M82	United Kingdom	Bolt action sniper rifle	7.62x51mm NATO
Rifle .22 No 8 Mk I	United Kingdom	Bolt-action cadet rifle	.22LR
Boys anti-tank rifle	United Kingdom	Anti-tank rifle	.55 Boys		[10]
Lee–Enfield New Zealand Carbine No. 1 Mk III No. 4 Mk I No. 4 MK II	British Empire	Bolt action service rifle	.303 British		Still used for commemorative purposes.
Ross Mk III	Canada	Bolt action service rifle	.303 British
Pattern 1914 Enfield	British Empire	Bolt action service rifle	.303 British
Lee-Metford Mk I Mk I* Mk II	British Empire	Bolt action service rifle	.303 British
Martini-Henry and carbine variants Martini-Enfield	British Empire	Breech-loading single-shot lever-actuated rifle	.577/450 Martini–Henry .303 British		Carbine still used by Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles Colour Guard
M1885 Remington–Lee	United States	Bolt action service rifle	.43 Spanish		Introduced 1887, Withdrawn 1888
Snider–Enfield	British Empire	Breech-loading rifle	.577 Snider
1858 Hay Medium Enfield Rifle	British Empire	Breech-loading rifle	.577		Introduced 1860 [11]

Sidearms

In service

Name	Origin	Type	Calibre	Image	Details
Glock 17	Austria	Semi-automatic pistol	9x19mm Parabellum		Gen. 4

Retired

Name	Origin	Type	Calibre	Image	Details
SIG Sauer P226	Switzerland Germany	Semi-automatic pistol	9x19mm Parabellum
FN Browning Hi-Power No. 2 Mk I	United States Belgium	Semi-automatic pistol	9x19mm Parabellum		[10]
M1911	United States	Semi-automatic pistol	.45 ACP
Smith & Wesson Model 10	United States	Revolver	.38 S&W		Victory Model
Enfield No. 2	British Empire	Revolver	.38 S&W
Webley Revolver Mk I Mk VI	British Empire	Revolver	.442 Webley .455 Webley

Shotguns

In service

Name	Origin	Type	Calibre	Image	Details
Benelli M3	Italy	Hybrid pump-action and semi-automatic shotgun	12-gauge		[1]

Retired

Name	Origin	Type	Calibre	Image	Details
Browning Auto-5	United States	semi-automatic shotgun
Remington Model 870	United States	pump-action shotgun

Submachine guns

In service

Name	Origin	Calibre	Image	Details
Heckler & Koch MP5	West Germany	9×19mm Parabellum		Used by the New Zealand Special Air Service.

Retired

Name	Origin	Calibre	Image	Details
Sterling L2A1 & L2A3	United Kingdom	9×19mm Parabellum		[10]
Sterling L34A1	United Kingdom	9×19mm Parabellum
Owen gun	Australia	9×19mm Parabellum
Sten Mk 2 Mk 5	United Kingdom	9×19mm Parabellum		[10]
Thompson M1928 M1928A1	United States	.45 ACP
Lanchester	United Kingdom	9×19mm Parabellum

Machine guns

In service

Name	Origin	Type	Calibre	Image	Details
FN MAG (MAG 58)	Belgium	General-purpose machine gun	7.62x51mm NATO		[1]
FN Minimi	Belgium	Light machine gun	7.62x51mm NATO		[12]
M2 Browning	United States	Heavy machine gun	12.7×99mm NATO		[1]

Retired

Name	Origin	Type	Calibre	Image	Details
C9 Minimi C9 5.56mm	Canada	light machine gun	5.56×45mm NATO		[1]
L43A1	United Kingdom	Ranging machine gun	7.62x51mm NATO		Used as a ranging gun on the FV101 Scorpion
L7	United Kingdom	General-purpose machine gun	7.62x51mm NATO		[10]
M60	United States	General-purpose machine gun	7.62x51mm NATO
L2A1	Australia Canada	light machine gun	7.62x51mm NATO		[10]
L4A3	United Kingdom	light machine gun	7.62x51mm NATO		[10]
M1919 Browning L3A3 L3A3E1 L3A4	United States	Medium machine gun	.30-06 Springfield
Bren gun	British Empire	light machine gun	.303 British		[10]
Charlton Automatic Rifle	New Zealand	light machine gun	.303 British
Hotchkiss M1909 Benét–Mercié	France British Empire	light machine gun	.303 British
Lewis gun	British Empire	light machine gun	.303 British
Besa machine gun	British Empire	Tank-mounted medium machine gun	7.92mm
Vickers gun	British Empire	Medium machine gun	.303 British		[10]

Grenade launchers

Current

Name	Origin	Type	Calibre	Details
RM M203PI	United States	Under-barrel grenade launcher	40mm grenade	Used on Steyr AUG and LMT MARS-L rifles
Heckler & Koch GMG	Germany	Automatic grenade launcher	40mm grenade	[1]

Retired

Name	Origin	Type	Calibre	Details
M203	United States	Under-barrel grenade launcher	40mm grenade	Used on M16A1 rifles
M79	United States	Handheld grenade launcher	40mm grenade

Mortar

Current

Name	Origin	Calibre	Details
M6C-640T	Austria	60mm mortar	[1]
L16A2	United Kingdom	81mm mortar

Retired

Name	Origin	Calibre	Details
Ordnance SBML two-inch mortar	British Empire	2 inch (50.8 mm) mortar	[10]
Ordnance ML 4.2 inch Mortar	British Empire	4.2 inch (110 mm) mortar	[10]

Anti-armour

Current

Name	Origin	Type	Calibre	Details
FGM-148 Javelin	United States	Anti-tank guided missile	127 mm	[1]
SRAAW M72	United States	Anti-tank rocket launcher	66 mm
Carl Gustaf M3	Sweden	Recoilless rifle	84 mm	[1]

Retired

Name	Origin	Type	Calibre	Details
Carl Gustaf L14A1	Sweden	Recoilless rifle	84 mm	[10]
M40 106-mm recoilless rifle	United States	Recoilless rifle	105 mm	[10]
BAT L1	British Empire Australia	Recoilless rifle	120 mm	[10]
BAT L4 MORBAT				[10]
BAT L6 WOMBAT				[10]
Anti-Tank Grenade No 94 Energra	Liechtenstein Belgium	Anti-tank rifle grenade	75 mm	[10]
M20 Mk II "Super Bazooka"	United States	Anti-tank rocket launcher	3.5 inch	[10]
Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank (PIAT)	British Empire	Anti-tank grenade launcher

Anti-personnel

Current

Name	Origin	Type	Details
M18A1 Claymore	United States South Korea	Anti-personnel mine
M67 Fragmentation hand grenade	United States	Fragmentation grenade

Retired

Name	Origin	Type	Details
Mills bomb N°36	British Empire	Fragmentation grenade

References

1. "Firepower". army.mil.nz/. Archived from the original on 2016-10-21. Retrieved 10 Oct 2016.
2. "New Weapons for Snipers and Special Forces" (PDF). New Zealand Army News (487): 4–5. October 2017. ISSN   1170-4411. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 January 2020.
3. New Sniper Rifle for the NZ Army (Television production). New Zealand Defence Force. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2021– via YouTube.
4. Davis, Sgt Mick (5 December 2013). "Snipers Hit the Mark: Snipers get fired up at SASR concentration in WA". Army (News). Directorate of Defence News. p. 11. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
5. Force, New Zealand Defence (18 October 2017). "Defence Force buying two new weapons".
6. "Unofficial New Zealand Special Air Service page" . Retrieved 2009-03-25.
7. "Split second decisions: police rules of engagement". The Sunday Star-Times . 1 February 2009. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
8. "Replacement due for police rifles". New Zealand Police. 19 May 2005. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
9. Cregeen, Phill (2024). "Steyr IW" (PDF). New Zealand Arms Register. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
10. Fenton, Damien Marc. A False Sense of Security: The Force Structure of the NZ Armt 1946-1978. New Zealand: Centre for Strategic Studies: New Zealand, Victoria University of Wellington. ISBN   0475201035.
11. "Hay Pattern Rifles". "To the Warriors Their Arms". 2024-02-28. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
12. "New Zealand Switches from 5.56mm to 7.62mm FN Herstal Minimi Light Machine Gun". thefirearmblog. Archived from the original on 2016-09-14. Retrieved 10 Oct 2016.