Associate Justice Minister, Nicole McKee says the Arms Bill, which passed its final reading in Parliament yesterday, means New Zealanders will soon have much better firearms laws that respect licensed firearm owners and improve public safety.
Ms McKee said the new law replaces a complex and confusing “patchwork” with legislation that is more logically structured, easier to understand, and focused on the areas that matter most for public safety.
“It strengthens penalties and enforcement against unlawful firearms activity while removing unnecessary rules and improving the way the firearms system operates,” she said.
One of the most significant changes under the new legislation is the creation of a new arms regulator, Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand, that will operate independently of the Police.
“Police will be able to focus on investigating crime and holding offenders to account, while the regulator focuses on licensing, firearms safety, education, and delivering a professional service to licensed firearm owners,” said Minister McKee.
“That separation is an important step towards rebuilding trust and confidence in the firearms regulatory system.”
Under the new laws, gang members will be disqualified from holding a firearms licence and eight new offences will be created, including ones to reduce firearms entering the black market.
The majority of the Bill, along with regulations giving effect to the changes in the Bill, will come into force on 23 September. The remaining provisions will come into force progressively by 23 February 2028.
“I would like to thank every New Zealander, including those members from the firearms community, who engaged with this process. The Bill had extensive consultation prior to being drafted, along with a full six-month select committee process where New Zealanders could share their views and suggest improvements. This is how law should be made.”
“On a personal level, this is a very special moment. I came to Parliament six years ago with a goal of completely replacing the Arms Act 1983. Today that goal has been achieved,” the Minister said.
Other notable changes in the Bill include:
- Establishing an independent firearms licensing review committee;
- Extending pest control endorsements to five years and allowing multi-user agreements for short term transfers of restricted firearms;
- Removing the need for a permit to posses for short-term business activities such as taking a firearm to a gunsmith for less than 21 days;
- Extending multiple-consignment import permits for business licence holders so they remain valid for 12 months;
- Extending business licence duration to five years for those with a proven compliance record;
- Removing the ability for the regulator to include information in the firearms registry that is not required by regulations;
- Allowing multi-entry visitor licences of up to 18 months;
- Allowing health-related suspensions for up to 12 months so individuals have time to obtain medical reports, implement mitigations, or seek help;
- Enabling infringement powers for low-level non-compliance;
- Restricting large-capacity pistol magazines to only those who hold a pistol licence;
- Establishing a statutory ‘red flag’ system with clarified information sharing so Police and other agencies can continue to signal to the firearms regulator when they have relevant intel that might trigger a review of whether a LFO remains a fit and proper person.
