Further changes to the Arms Bill will make New Zealand’s firearms laws more practical, proportionate, and effective, says Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee.

A range of changes to the Arms Bill recommended by the Justice Select Committee have been adopted by the Government and further changes are being proposed via an amendment paper.

“The Committee’s report shows that licenced firearm owners, and all New Zealanders are finally being listened to, and that reflects what I've been hearing too,” says Mrs McKee.

“In 2019 and 2020, the Government rushed through changes with next to no consultation that treated licenced firearm owners as villains while failing to reduce crime committed by the unlicensed.

“This time around, thousands of licenced firearm owners took the time to write a submission, they were heard, and many of their suggestions are reflected in the Committee's report.

“The Bill is a significant improvement on the mess we have currently. A range of practical changes were made at Committee to remove unnecessary red tape, improve public safety, and ensure the law functions as intended.

“The changes recommended by the Committee will benefit licenced firearm owners, firearms businesses, gunsmiths, clubs and ranges, hunting guides, museums, and pest controllers.”

Changes recommended by the Committee and adopted by the Government include:

Mrs McKee will also introduce an Amendment Paper containing further improvements, including:

“These changes strengthen the independence of the review process, remove unnecessary duplication, and ensure the new system works in practice,” says Mrs McKee.

“Separately, in regulations Cabinet has agreed to reduce the number of scheduled pistol shooting activities required to maintain a pistol endorsement from 12 to 10 each year, as recommended unanimously by the Committee.

“This recognises that illness, range closures, and other unforeseen circumstances can make the current requirement unnecessarily burdensome, without improving public safety.

“I thank the Committee for their constructive work on this Bill.”

New regulations giving effect to the changes in the Bill will come into force at the same time as relevant provisions. Most of the Bill will commence on 23 September 2026, with the remaining provisions coming into force progressively by 23 February 2028.