More than a third of all firearms licence holders have registered their firearms, with New Zealand's Firearms Registry recording its 400,000th gun now linked to an individual licence holder.
Te Tari Pureke - Firearms Safety Authority says the 400,000th firearm was one of more than 1000 guns added to the Registry in one day, on 1 May. These firearms are held by 81,400 individual licence holders, or 36 percent of licenced gun owners in New Zealand.
Acting Executive Director, Superintendent Richard Wilson, says the Registry is part of a broad response to firearms harm in our communities, and delivers greater transparency and accountability when firearms are bought and sold, imported, and manufactured. This is helping mitigate the risk of firearms falling into the wrong hands.
The Registry was one of the reforms following the March 2019 terror attack in Christchurch.
"Only last month, Police arrested two unlicensed hunters in possession of a number of firearms after a complaint about illegal hunting. When the serial numbers of some of the guns were cross-checked with the Registry, it identified licence holders and investigations are continuing.
"This is a huge step forward, being able to trace firearms so quickly and easily. And remember, it's still early days. Over time, as we get all licence holders in, the Registry will increasingly make it more difficult for firearms to move from lawful hands into the black market of unlicensed people, including gangs, extremists, or criminals."
Licence holders must record their details in the Registry no later than August 2028. However, if they have an activating circumstance before that time, such as renewing their licence, buying a firearm, or changing address, they must register their licence details and all their firearms and parts, and keep that information up to date. Most registered firearms, almost 89 percent, are so-called A-Category firearms, the standard rifles and shotguns used by hunters and farmers.
Superintendent Wilson says the Registry is on track to have all licence holders in by the 2028 deadline.
"We acknowledge all the firearm licence holders who have filled in the Firearms Registry so far. To those yet to register their firearms, Te Tari Pūreke is here to help. Go to the MyFirearms web page or call us on 0800 844 431 between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday."
