Other planned changes affect museum worker and multi-entry visitor licences
Nicole McKee, associate justice minister, has announced the government’s adoption of additional amendments to the Arms Bill, as recommended by the Justice Select Committee, with even more changes proposed through an amendment paper.
“The Bill is a significant improvement on the mess we have currently,” she said in a news release. “A range of practical changes were made at Committee to remove unnecessary red tape, improve public safety, and ensure the law functions as intended.”
Under the further changes adopted, the government said it seeks to:
McKee noted that the adopted amendments aim to benefit licensed firearm owners, firearms businesses, gunsmiths, clubs and ranges, hunting guides, museums, and pest controllers.
“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,” she said in the news release.
McKee shared that thousands of licensed firearm provided submissions at the latest consultation.
“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,” she said.
The government noted that new regulations implementing the adopted changes will take effect at the same time as pertinent provisions.
McKee also intends to introduce an amendment paper with even more suggested changes. Pursuant to this document, the government may:
“These changes strengthen the independence of the review process, remove unnecessary duplication, and ensure the new system works in practice,” she said in the government’s news release.
McKee added that new regulations will decrease the number from 12 to 10 for scheduled pistol shooting activities required annually to maintain a pistol endorsement, as unanimously recommended by the committee members.
“This recognises that illness, range closures, and other unforeseen circumstances can make the current requirement unnecessarily burdensome, without improving public safety,” she said.
On 9 December 2025, McKee announced the government’s introduction of the Arms Bill to Parliament. This followed Cabinet’s agreement to repeal and replace the Arms Act 1983 with new legislation, as announced on 11 November 2025.
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