Licensing

Are you a company or a sole trader?

• You must have a licence for each class of service that you provide.
• All staff that you employ who provide a private security service must hold a valid COA (Certificate of Approval) or licence for that class of service.
• You cannot employ staff to perform private security services that you are not licensed for.
• Companies and sole traders must file an annual return each year they hold a licence.

Are you a security employee?

• You must hold a valid COA for the service you provide.
• You cannot be employed for a service without a COA
• You need to prove that you have the training or skills required for the class of service you are providing
• You must clearly display your COA badge at all times when working, unless you have a reasonable and genuine reason to believe this would make you and/or others unsafe.

Temporary COA’s and Emergency Appointments

• The PSPLA (Private Security Personnel Licencing Authority) can issue temporary COA’s that last three months to allow staff to complete mandatory training.
• Applications can be declined if training is not completed by the end of the three month period.
• The PSPLA can issue an emergency appointment COA that lasts two weeks to allow you to employ more staff.
• Emergency appointment COA’s will only be granted in a genuine emergency.  Special approval by the Authority is required.

You must let the PSLPA know immediately if:

• Your registered office changes.
• You want to add or remove a place of business.
• You want to add or remove an officer of a company.
• You want to add or remove a class of service to your licence.
• You are no longer eligible for your licence or certificate under ss62-63.
• You have misplaced your licence and need a replacement.
• You are the holder of a COA and you change your name or residential address.

The Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Act 2010 (the PSPPI) applies to these services:

• Property Guard – guards, property and/or monitors burglar alarms, warning devices and cameras.
• Security Technician – installs, removes or repairs burglar alarms, warning devices, special locks and cameras.
• Security Consultant – sells burglar alarms, warning devices, special locks, cameras and guard services.
• Personal Guard Service – guards a specific person.
• Crowd Controller – screens entry, keeps order, and removes people if necessary.
• Repossession Agent – repossesses consumer goods on behalf of a creditor.
• Confidential Document Destruction – collects and destroys confidential documents.

For all forms, more information, or to make a complaint visit the PSPLA page on the Ministry of Justice website: https://justice.govt.nz/tribunals/licences-certificates/pspla/