New Zealand to remove police from gun licensing process

On November 11, 2025, New Zealand announced significant reforms to its firearms laws, including removing police from the gun licensing process. Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee introduced legislation to establish an independent Firearms Safety Authority, aiming to restore trust between gun owners and regulators. Despite these changes, the near-total ban on semiautomatic weapons, implemented after the 2019 Christchurch mosque massacre, will remain in place. The new legislation also proposes simplifying licensing processes and introducing a red flag system to share risk information. The bill is expected to pass by mid-2026.