6. HONE HARAWIRA (Māori Party—Te Tai Tokerau) Link to this
to the Minister of Police
Does she agree with Chester Borrows MP that “the horse has bolted” and that it is too late to find all of the unregistered weapons in New Zealand; if so, what action can she take as police Minister to address the critical issues around the registration of gun owners?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Police) Link to this
New Zealand does not have a universal registration system for firearms. The Arms Act 1983 moved to a licensing regime to ensure, as far as possible, that only fit and proper people can legally have access to firearms. Reasons for change at the time were that the previous firearms registration scheme was inaccurate, had low compliance, did not assist crime prevention, and was costly. There are, however, very serious issues around unlicensed gun owners who are criminals.
Is the Minister aware that New Zealand is probably the only country in the world to allow online sales of guns, and that as result we have one of the highest rates of gun ownership per capita in the world? Can she please tell the House what action is planned to respond to concerns that little is being done to revise one of the weakest weapons monitoring systems in the world?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
I am advised that other countries—including the UK, Australia, and the US—have online sales of guns. The online sale of guns is one of the issues I will be asking police to consider.
Keith LockeI seek leave to table the 1997 report by Sir Thomas Thorp, which advocates a system of licensing of guns.
Mr SPEAKER