For over five years, military-style semi-automatic weapons have been banned in New Zealand. Labour made the change with near-unanimous support following the tragic events of March 15.
Now, the Government is refusing to rule out reintroducing dangerous firearms like the one used in that massacre. They’ve said they will take another look at the ban, and the firearms registry.
This is being led by gun lobbyist and ACT Party MP Nicole McKee. The Cabinet, made up of mostly National Party MPs, has inexplicably agreed to switch the powers that allow changes to be made to some of our most important firearm’s laws – including how we define a prohibited weapon – away from police and over to justice.
It means Nicole McKee, as the Associate Justice Minister, will have responsibility for these changes.
That is scary. She is on record as not only wanting to make some of the most dangerous guns more accessible again, but also campaigned on getting rid of the firearms registry which was set up to ensure agencies like police know who purchases guns.
Nobody needs a gun as powerful as the one used in March 15 – unless you’re in the military. These are guns that are designed to kill people, and they have no place in public life in New Zealand.
The ban Labour put in place was to help protect people, to ensure that something like March 15 would never happen again. There is a coronial inquest beginning next month looking at firearms licensing and laws, including how the terrorist accessed the gun and ammunition used in the attack.
The fact the Government has now delegated the power to change what is considered a prohibited firearm to a gun lobbyist, who has already made changes to gun regulations with no consultation, should be very concerning to New Zealanders. It is very concerning to Labour.
A public meeting was held in Christchurch, and there will be a meeting in Auckland on 10 October. Labour has also launched a petition to tell the Government, and the National Party, not to allow these dangerous weapons to be sold in New Zealand again.
The increase in violent crime we’re seeing is completely unacceptable. New Zealanders deserve to feel safe.
Many small businesses and communities that I’ve heard from have told me that they don’t feel any safer, and in some cases it’s gotten worse.
We must prevent these guns from getting onto our streets, and from getting into the wrong hands. We must also keep the gun registry, so we know who is buying firearms and can better keep track of them.
We do not want a New Zealand where dangerous, prohibited weapons are more readily available. With all of its talk about law and order, this Government should be cracking down on firearms, not handing the power to change firearms laws to a gun lobbyist.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell staked his job on law and order getting better under his watch within the year – he needs to front up because his time is nearly up.
So far, all they’ve done is set up a working group that has two years to come up with answers, the community needs answers now.
This isn’t the New Zealand we know or want. We must not let our peaceful country become immune to gun violence, and we can start by ensuring the most dangerous weapons stay banned.
Let’s tell the Government that reintroducing military-style semi-automatic firearms should not be up for debate.

-Hon Ginny Andersen,
Labour’s Police spokesperson,