New Zealand’s firearms laws have been updated and modernised.
As part of these changes, day-to-day responsibility for the firearms regulatory system is shifting to an independent regulator – Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand (FSE). NZ Police continue to focus on criminal law enforcement.
Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand will be focused on:
• encouraging a culture of community safety;
• enabling legitimate possession and use;
• ensuring compliance through education and enforcement; and
• providing simpler, smarter services for firearms licence holders.
To support this shift, the new regulator plans to introduce a Dedicated Arms System. This includes improved digital tools for registration, case management, and licensing — making the process more accurate, more efficient, and easier for legitimate firearms users.
