The consultation period is open until 28 February
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has announced the start of public consultations on the Arms Act rewrite.
The consultation period, which opened on 13 January, will run until 28 February. McKee highlighted the importance of public involvement, emphasising that the rewrite aims to create a firearms system that prioritises public safety and simplifies regulatory requirements.
“This government wants to rewrite the act to put in place a fit-for-purpose regime which has public safety and simple, effective regulatory processes at its heart,” McKee said.
The Ministry of Justice has released a discussion document to guide the consultation process. It outlines key themes for the rewrite and invites feedback on specific areas of the current firearms legislation. Submissions will contribute to the ministry’s policy development process, which will eventually result in the introduction of a new bill to Parliament. At that stage, the public will have another opportunity to provide input through the select committee process.
The Arms Act enacted 40 years ago, has been amended multiple times, often in response to specific events such as the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks. While these changes addressed immediate concerns, they resulted in a regulatory framework that can be complex and challenging for users to navigate. The government’s reform programme aims to modernise the act, ensuring it is effective, comprehensive, and easy to understand.
This consultation represents the fourth phase of the government’s broader firearms reform initiative. Previous phases included measures to strengthen enforcement through firearms prohibition orders, regulate shooting clubs and ranges, and review the firearms registry.
The discussion document is available in multiple formats to ensure broad participation, including a simplified summary version translated into several languages. Submissions can be made online, via email, or by post. The ministry has also committed to providing accessible document versions, such as large print, audio, and e-braille, to accommodate diverse needs.
Details about the discussion document and submission process are available on the Ministry of Justice’s website.
