Photo: Nicole McKee presenting at the 78th Annual Conference in Wellington on Saturday 25 July 2026.
Today, 29 July, the Arms Bill passed its third reading in Parliament. Once it receives Royal assent, the Arms Act 1983 will be replaced by a single, modern framework.
This is the end of a process that started with public consultation in early 2025 and ran through a full select committee. Thousands of licensed firearm owners took the time to write submissions, and a good number of the practical fixes in the final Act came directly out of that.
Photo: Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee in Parliament today, 29 July .
The Arms Bill passed its final reading in Parliament today meaning New Zealanders will soon have much better firearms laws that respect licenced firearm owners and improve public safety, says Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee.
“The Bill keeps firearms out of criminals’ hands, while making compliance easier for licenced firearm owners,” says Mrs McKee
The bill now moves to Royal Assent and becomes law:
Join NZDA To Help Us Advocate on Your Behalf
