Latest news with #FirearmsRegistry
Otago Daily Times
13-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Firearms registry's efficacy questioned
Police yesterday seized nearly 500 firearms from a property in Gore. PHOTO: SUPPLIED After the seizure of nearly 500 firearms in Gore, a lobbyist for responsible firearms says the system needs a serious overhaul. The haul is believed to be one of the largest weapons hauls in New Zealand history. In a statement released yesterday, police said after visiting a man's property to serve a notice of temporary suspension, which allows them to revoke his firearms licence, they discovered and seized 478 firearms. The seizure includes five pistols. Six of the confiscated firearms were registered in the man's name and, although gun safes were in use, a large number of firearms were unsecured. Southland area commander Inspector Mike Bowman said the major safety issues were very alarming. "It's shocking to see so many firearms unsecured ... the scale of it is concerning," he said. No charges have been laid at this time, but Insp Bowman said this might change as police investigated the collection's size, improper storage and lack of registration. The potential of the unregistered firearms being sold to criminal groups was also considered. Insp Bowman said due to the sheer size of the collection, the investigation would take quite some time. Multiple firearm purchases since 2023 caught the eye of police, who noticed not all of the man's purchases were registered in the Firearms Registry, as legally required. Purchasers must also register any existing firearms they already own. Due to the volume of weapons, multiple vehicles were needed to remove them. The firearms will be held in secure custody during the investigation. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Firearms Safety Authority executive director Angela Brazier said the case highlighted the importance of the Firearms Registry. "Information shared by police enabled us to quickly suspend the man's licence and remove this considerable number of unlawfully held firearms,'' she said. However, Council of Licensed Firearms Owners (CLFO) spokesman Hugh Devereux-Mack said it was important not to assume any ill intent before the investigation. "I'd be interested to hear what the justification was, what he owned the firearms for, why he hadn't registered them. "We don't know if they were to be sold for criminal activity, or if he was just lazy," he said. Mr Devereux-Mack said he had heard from many licence-holders who had difficulty with the registry system, finding it difficult to use with multiple points of action. Although he stressed the importance of following the law and registering firearms, Mr Devereux-Mack said it had to be a two-way street. "I think you need to make the process as easy as possible for ... [gun owners] to be law-abiding." The Ministry of Justice released a review into the registry, stating it was cost-effective, contributed to public safety, and helped mitigate the risk of black-market transactions. Mr Devereux-Mack called for a change to the system. "We should be focusing on writing good laws which are easy to follow, so [gun owners] don't accidentally become criminals and tie up police resources. "There isn't any evidence the register is actually making anyone safe, and it's costing us all," he said.
Otago Daily Times
13-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Registry's efficacy questioned
Police yesterday seized nearly 500 firearms from a property in Gore. PHOTO: SUPPLIED After the seizure of nearly 500 firearms in Gore, a lobbyist for responsible firearms says the system needs a serious overhaul. The haul is believed to be one of the largest weapons hauls in New Zealand history. In a statement released yesterday, police said after visiting a man's property to serve a notice of temporary suspension, which allows them to revoke his firearms licence, they discovered and seized 478 firearms. The seizure includes five pistols. Six of the confiscated firearms were registered in the man's name and, although gun safes were in use, a large number of firearms were unsecured. Southland area commander Inspector Mike Bowman said the major safety issues were very alarming. "It's shocking to see so many firearms unsecured ... the scale of it is concerning," he said. No charges have been laid at this time, but Insp Bowman said this might change as police investigated the collection's size, improper storage and lack of registration. The potential of the unregistered firearms being sold to criminal groups was also considered. Insp Bowman said due to the sheer size of the collection, the investigation would take quite some time. Multiple firearm purchases since 2023 caught the eye of police, who noticed not all of the man's purchases were registered in the Firearms Registry, as legally required. Purchasers must also register any existing firearms they already own. Due to the volume of weapons, multiple vehicles were needed to remove them. The firearms will be held in secure custody during the investigation. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Firearms Safety Authority executive director Angela Brazier said the case highlighted the importance of the Firearms Registry. "Information shared by police enabled us to quickly suspend the man's licence and remove this considerable number of unlawfully held firearms,'' she said. However, Council of Licensed Firearms Owners (CLFO) spokesman Hugh Devereux-Mack said it was important not to assume any ill intent before the investigation. "I'd be interested to hear what the justification was, what he owned the firearms for, why he hadn't registered them. "We don't know if they were to be sold for criminal activity, or if he was just lazy," he said. Mr Devereux-Mack said he had heard from many licence-holders who had difficulty with the registry system, finding it difficult to use with multiple points of action. Although he stressed the importance of following the law and registering firearms, Mr Devereux-Mack said it had to be a two-way street. "I think you need to make the process as easy as possible for ... [gun owners] to be law-abiding." The Ministry of Justice released a review into the registry, stating it was cost-effective, contributed to public safety, and helped mitigate the risk of black-market transactions. Mr Devereux-Mack called for a change to the system. "We should be focusing on writing good laws which are easy to follow, so [gun owners] don't accidentally become criminals and tie up police resources. "There isn't any evidence the register is actually making anyone safe, and it's costing us all," he said.
1News
13-06-2025
- 1News
Nearly 500 guns seized in one of NZ's largest firearms busts
Nearly 500 firearms have been seized from a property in Southland in a discovery police described as "shocking" and one of the largest seizures of weaponry in New Zealand's history. The bust, which occurred in Gore earlier this month, was "by far" the largest to ever occur in Southland, said Area Commander Inspector Mike Bowman. "It's shocking to see so many firearms unsecured… the scale of it is concerning." Red flags were raised with officials due to the man's purchasing history, Bowman said. "Through the Firearms Registry, the Firearms Safety Authority was able to establish the man had purchased multiple firearms since 2023 — and not all were registered as they should have been after purchase." ADVERTISEMENT Bowman said, in buying a firearm, the man was required to register old firearms already in his possession. "We allege that did not happen." The man's purchase history raised red flags with officials. (Source: NZ Police) These concerns led officers to the man's home in Gore on June 6 to serve a notice of temporary suspension. This order allowed police to retain a firearms licence holder's licence and uplift any firearm's in their possession. In total, 478 firearms were seized, including five pistols, some that may be prohibited firearms, and some that may be restricted weapons for which the man was not licensed. Significant quantities of ammunition and firearm parts were also recovered. Just six of the 478 weapons were registered in the man's name. While some were locked in safes, a large number were unsecured. ADVERTISEMENT Multiple police vehicles were required to transport the firearms from the property. The firearms, ammunition, and parts would be held securely until the investigation and any subsequent legal action were completed. "It's still early days in the investigation and we have a lot of work to do before we get to that point," Bowman said. Firearms registry credited in seizure Firearms Safety Authority executive director Angela Brazier said the case highlighted the value of the Firearms Registry. "Information shared by police enabled us to quickly suspend the man's licence for failing to comply with his registry obligations. Once his licence was suspended, police could rapidly respond to remove this considerable number of unlawfully held firearms." Brazier pointed out the majority of firearms licence holders were "good law-abiding people". "The review of the Firearms Registry released in May confirmed that diversion of firearms to the black market remains a threat to public safety and the registry mitigates that risk. ADVERTISEMENT "I acknowledge all licence holders who have filled in the registry and are doing their bit to make it harder for criminals and other unlicensed people to access firearms." There were more than 86,000 active licence holders registered, or around 38% of active licence holders. Around 29% of those did so proactively without waiting for a legal requirement. More than 425,000 firearms were currently listed in the registry.
Scoop
13-06-2025
- Scoop
Hundreds Of Firearms Seized From Gore Property
Police have seized nearly 500 firearms from a property in Gore – a shocking discovery that is believed to be one of New Zealand's largest seizures of weaponry. Police are now piecing together exactly how the man came to be in possession of so many firearms, and have begun the process of logging each one into evidence. Concerns about the man's purchasing history led officers to his home in Gore on Friday 6 June to serve a notice of temporary suspension – an order allowing Police to retain a firearms licence holder's licence and uplift any firearms in the person's possession. A total of 478 firearms of different descriptions were seized, including five pistols, some that may be prohibited firearms, and some that may be restricted weapons, for which the man was not licenced. Significant quantities of ammunition, and firearm parts were also recovered. Only six of the 478 firearms were registered in the man's name, and while some were locked in safes, a large number were unsecure. 'It's shocking to see so many firearms unsecured… the scale of it is concerning,' said Southland Area Commander Inspector Mike Bowman. It was largest seizure of firearms ever seen in the Southern District 'by far'. No charges have been laid, but that may change, depending on the investigation, Inspector Bowman said. It will look at why the weapons weren't registered or stored properly, and what was the purpose of such a vast collection. Inspector Bowman said it was too soon to say if any of the firearms were destined to be sold to criminal groups. 'A number of enquiries are being made into this discovery, but the sheer number of firearms involved means that will take some time.' Unusual purchases It was the man's purchase history that caught the attention of officials. 'Through the Firearms Registry, the Firearms Safety Authority was able to establish the man had purchased multiple firearms since 2023, and not all were registered as they should have been after purchase,' Inspector Bowman said. 'In buying a firearm, the man was required to register older firearms already in his possession, and we allege that did not happen.' Because of the number of firearms located, multiple Police vehicles were required to transport them from the property. The firearms, ammo and parts will be held securely by Police until the investigation, and any legal action that may follow, is complete. Their future is unclear: 'It's still early days in the investigation and we have a lot of work to do before we get to that point.' Swift action after red flags raised Firearms Safety Authority Executive Director Angela Brazier, said the case highlighted the value of the Firearms Registry, and of close co-operation between the Authority and frontline Police. 'Information shared by Police enabled us to quickly suspend the man's licence for failing to comply with his Registry obligations. Once his licence was suspended, Police could rapidly respond to remove this considerable number of unlawfully held firearms. 'The majority of firearms licence holders are good law-abiding people. The review of the Firearms Registry released in May confirmed that diversion of firearms to the black market remains a threat to public safety and the Registry mitigates that risk. 'I acknowledge all licence holders who have filled in the Registry and are doing their bit to make it harder for criminals and other unlicensed people to access firearms.' Two years into its five-year journey there are more than 86,000 active licence holders registered, or 38 per cent of active licence holders. Around 29 per cent of those registered did so proactively, without waiting for the legal requirement of an activating circumstance. There are more than 425,000 firearms listed in the Registry.
NZ Herald
23-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Jevon McSkimming ‘strongly denies' acting inappropriately in firearms licences vetting process
A statement from the office of Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said police were 'aware of the allegation to which you refer'. 'It is being looked into as part of a wider investigation into concerns that have been raised. That is still under way. 'The police commissioner was first made aware of those concerns in March and directed the investigation occur. This is a separate issue to the criminal investigation into Jevon McSkimming.' In response to questions from RNZ, McSkimming released a statement through his lawyer. 'Mr McSkimming strongly denies any allegation he acted in any way inappropriately in relation to the vetting process for firearms licences. 'As the overall operational lead on firearms, at one time Mr McSkimming raised issues about how the vetting process was being applied. He took those concerns to the executive leadership team and, following discussion at the ELT, the process was subsequently modified.' In response to questions from RNZ, Mitchell said in a statement he was aware 'some concerns have been brought forward'. He said the police commissioner was 'looking into the matter'. There were no timeframes for the various investigations at this time. The firearms regulator was established after the Christchurch Mosque attacks in 2019. According to its website, it has three main functions, including implementing the firearms licensing system, managing the Firearms Registry and educating people to enable compliance and promote the safe use of firearms. RNZ revealed last week pornography found on McSkimming's work computer is being investigated as alleged objectionable material. He declined to comment on the allegations through his lawyer. Last Friday evening, his lawyer Linda Clark was granted a rare 'superinjunction' by Justice Karen Grau that prohibited reporting that disclosed the nature of the allegedly objectionable material, as well as the existence of the injunction itself, until 2.15pm on Monday. On Monday, Justice Cheryl Gwyn held a teleconference from the High Court at Wellington to discuss the injunction with Clark, the police, and legal counsel for RNZ, Stuff and NZME. After that conference, the order prohibiting publication of the nature of the allegedly objectionable material was continued – but the order prohibiting the existence of the injunction was not continued, meaning RNZ can now report the fact of McSkimming's application and the interim result. Chambers said in a statement last week that he appreciated the resignation of McSkimming raised questions, but said the criminal investigation couldn't be 'compromised by commenting on the circumstances of it at this point'. 'However, I can say that I have always made it very clear that trust and confidence in police is a top priority for me as commissioner,' Chambers said. 'I take very seriously anything that puts trust and confidence and the reputation of police at risk and will act to address it. 'I have high expectations of all police staff and will address it if those standards are not met, irrespective of rank or role.' In announcing McSkimming's resignation last week, Mitchell said McSkimming resigned before he could be dismissed. 'I instructed the Public Service Commission to commence the process to remove Mr McSkimming from office after allegations of a very serious nature recently came to light, separate to the investigation that led to him being suspended.' He did not say what the allegations were. Mitchell said the Policing Act was 'very clear'. 'A deputy commissioner of police must be a 'fit and proper' person. They are rightly held to the highest standards of conduct and this new information called into serious question Mr McSkimming's fitness for office. 'When Mr McSkimming was invited to respond to these allegations he chose to resign. Mr McSkimming's resignation has confirmed my view that his continuation in the role was untenable.' Police advised Mitchell that their investigations into McSkimming would continue, notwithstanding his resignation.
