New Zealand Overhauls Firearms Governance with Landmark Legislation

On November 11, 2025, the New Zealand government introduced sweeping legislative changes aimed at recalibrating the nation's firearms regulatory framework. This significant announcement signals a deliberate pivot toward establishing a clearer delineation of responsibilities and bolstering public safety protocols, while seeking a renewed sense of equilibrium with licensed firearm custodians. The essence of the unveiling centers on restructuring the oversight mechanism and reaffirming core safety mandates established following a profound national tragedy.

The most structural alteration involves transitioning the Firearms Safety Authority from its current embedded position within the New Zealand Police to an entirely independent entity reporting directly to the government. This separation is intended to dissolve perceived friction points, with the fifteen police officers currently assigned to the Authority transitioning back to frontline law enforcement duties. Hugh Devereux-Mack, a spokesperson for the Council of Licensed Firearms Owners, welcomed the removal of police from the licensing function, citing previous experiences of what he termed "unfair and intimidating treatment" of gun owners under the former arrangement. The government concluded this structural shift will act as a catalyst for rebuilding trust between the regulatory body and the community it oversees.

Crucially, the near-total prohibition on semiautomatic firearms, a direct legislative response to the devastating 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks that claimed 51 lives, remains firmly in place. This commitment underscores the government's unwavering focus on preventing future mass casualty events. Furthermore, the reforms introduce pragmatic adjustments for compliant owners, including an extension of license renewal timelines and greater latitude in adhering to specific firearm storage stipulations. A new 'red flag' information-sharing system will also be implemented across various agencies to enhance proactive risk identification.

Reflecting a forward-looking approach to emerging threats, the proposed legislation significantly tightens controls on the manufacturing of firearms utilizing 3D-printing technology. These measures form an integral part of a comprehensive rewrite of the foundational Arms Act 1983, with the draft bill anticipated to reach Parliament before the close of 2025 and a hopeful enactment timeline set for mid-2026. The public consultation process for this rewrite began in the early part of 2025. While structural improvements are introduced, the Council of Licensed Firearms Owners expressed disappointment that the changes did not include a proposal for a new, updated definition of what constitutes a "fit and proper" person for firearm ownership, suggesting core suitability criteria remain a subject for future deliberation.