Government considers current legislation to be outdated and overly complicated

The government is currently undertaking a comprehensive reform of our firearms laws; it aims to modernise the Arms Act 1983 which it considers to be outdated and overly complicated. The overhaul is the fourth phase of a commitment to reform the firearms regulatory system following on from three previous phases implemented after the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting.

Public consultation on the proposed changes took place earlier this year.

Proposed changes

Key proposals include:

• Rewriting the Arms Act 1983 entirely to create a more coherent and effective legislative framework that balances public safety with the rights of lawful firearms users
• Strengthening Firearms Prohibition Orders, expanding the criteria and allowing the courts to impose Orders on gang members and associates convicted of drug, firearms or violent offences
• Reviewing the Firearms Registry to assess its effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. The government aims to ensure it is promoting public safety without imposing unnecessary burdens on lawful firearms owners
• Transferring the Firearms Safety Authority (to be renamed the Firearms Licensing Authority) from the responsibility of New Zealand Police to the oversight of another government entity. The government believes this will enhance independence and effectiveness of firearms administration, and
• Amending the regulations of shooting clubs and ranges to ensure their facilities are operating safely and compliantly while supporting legitimate activities of firearms enthusiasts.

Potential benefits

The proposed reforms have several potential benefits, including:

• Improved public safety with stricter controls and strengthened Firearms Prohibition Orders
• Better regulation and oversight to modernise outdated laws
• More effective firearms licensing through an independent Firearms Licensing Authority, allowing police to focus their resources more on illegal firearms and gang-related gun violence rather than administrative licensing work
• Enhanced gun owner responsibilities through increased requirements for safe storage, record-keeping and reporting, and
• Stronger measures against gun trafficking through stricter background checks, licensing and a well-regulated system.

With each benefit, however, shortcomings follow. Potential drawbacks include:

• Possible overreach and bureaucracy leading to inefficiencies, delays and higher administrative costs
• Limited impact on criminals and gangs given most gun crimes involve illegally obtained firearms, unaffected by strict laws. Police unions have expressed concerns that moving licensing away from the police could weaken police ability to monitor gun-related crime
• Compliance challenges, with some gun owners struggling to comply with new laws due to lack of awareness or financial barriers, such as affording secure storage or meeting new licensing requirements
• Potential for unintended consequences, such as over-regulation leading to more non-compliance or a larger black market, and
• Farmers and pest controllers who rely on firearms for work may face unnecessary restrictions affecting their business operations.

Federated Farmers has been particularly vocal about the rewrite, noting that the changes over the previous government’s term were ‘a whole lot of really silly, impractical amendments’ that have made it harder for people to access firearms.

Farmers have noticed how those changes have made it harder but cannot identify anything that has made it easier. Farmers have a genuine need for firearms and gun laws need to be more straightforward for those who need reasonable access to firearms.

The government has now completed public consultation; it aims to pass the new firearms legislation before the end of its current term in 2026.