Nicole McKee Criticizes Labour for Misinformation on Firearms Law, Promises Reforms

McKee emphasized that no decisions have been made yet regarding the Coalition's commitment to rewrite the Arms Act.

Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has criticized the Labour Party for spreading false information about New Zealand’s firearms laws, calling it both "dangerous and disappointing." McKee responded to recent claims by Labour MP Ginny Andersen that the previous Labour Government had fully banned semi-automatic firearms in 2019 and that the current Coalition Government is planning to reintroduce them.

"Both claims are false," McKee said. "Licensed firearms owners can still possess semi-automatic firearms if they have the correct endorsement, such as collectors and pest controllers. You can’t reintroduce something that was never banned."

McKee emphasized that no decisions have been made yet regarding the Coalition's commitment to rewrite the Arms Act. She assured that the Government will provide New Zealanders the opportunity to have their say through a select committee process once an amendment bill is introduced, something she pointed out Labour failed to do.

The Associate Justice Minister also criticized Labour’s 2019 firearms law changes as rushed and ineffective. She pointed out that firearm-related convictions increased by 18 percent in 2023 compared to 2019, which she said is evidence that Labour’s changes have not improved public safety. McKee pledged to clean up what she described as Labour’s "confused and inconsistent" approach to firearms regulation, aiming to produce the "best firearms laws in the world."