Firearms reform 2025
The below content was written as part of the Rural eSpeaking Issue 47, Autumn 2025.
The government is currently undertaking a comprehensive reform of our firearms laws; it aims to modernise the Arms Act 1983 which it considers to be outdated and overly complicated. The overhaul is the fourth phase of a commitment to reform the firearms regulatory system following on from three previous phases implemented after the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting.
Public consultation on the proposed changes took place earlier this year.
Key proposals include:
The proposed reforms have several potential benefits, including:
With each benefit, however, shortcomings follow. Potential drawbacks include:
Federated Farmers has been particularly vocal about the rewrite, noting that the changes over the previous government’s term were ‘a whole lot of really silly, impractical amendments’ that have made it harder for people to access firearms.
Farmers have noticed how those changes have made it harder but cannot identify anything that has made it easier. Farmers have a genuine need for firearms and gun laws need to be more straightforward for those who need reasonable access to firearms.
The government has now completed public consultation; it aims to pass the new firearms legislation before the end of its current term in 2026.
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