New Zealand firearms regulatory reforms

In mid‑July 2026 New Zealand’s Firearms Safety Authority (FSA) publicly rebuked the Council of Licensed Firearms Owners (COLFO), which had accused police of bullying and claimed low trust among licensed owners. The FSA highlighted that COLFO represents fewer than 5 percent of the 220,000 licence holders and criticised its survey methodology. The dispute unfolded as the government prepared to launch an independent regulator, Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand, to take over day‑to‑day oversight from police, in line with Justice Select Committee recommendations.

A week later, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced a sweeping overhaul of firearms legislation. The new risk‑based framework will simplify licensing, focus police resources on high‑risk individuals, and retain strong penalties for illegal possession. The reforms complement broader regulatory changes, including revised hazardous‑substances rules for laboratories announced by Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden. Together, the announcements mark the transition from contentious debate over police involvement to the implementation of a new regulatory structure aimed at improving public safety while easing compliance burdens.