Following the 15 March 2019 terrorist attack on Christchurch masjidain, then Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that New Zealand’s firearms laws would change.

PM Statement on Christchurch mosques terror attack - 21 March | Beehive.govt.nz

In her announcement on 21 March 2019, she outlined that:

• certain firearms would be declared military style semi-automatics
• high-capacity magazines would be banned
• parts that turn firearms into semi-automatic firearms would be banned
• a buy-back would be implemented to compensate licence holders who were previously lawfully in possession of items that were now prohibited.

On 21 March 2019, the Arms (Military Style Semi-automatic Firearms) Order 2019 took effect and declared certain semi-automatic firearms to be military style semi-automatic firearms.  

Arms (Military Style Semi-automatic Firearms) Order 2019 | New Zealand Legislation website

On 1 April 2019, the Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Bill was introduced to Parliament.  

Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Bill | New Zealand Legislation website

On 11 April 2019, following a truncated Select Committee process, in which over 13,000 public submissions were received and considered, the Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Act 2019 received Royal Assent and became law on 12 April 2019.  

Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Act 2019 | New Zealand Legislation website

This Amendment Act made changes to the Arms Act 1983, including:

• introducing definitions of prohibited firearms, prohibited magazines, prohibited parts and prohibited ammunition  
• restrictions on who could lawfully possess prohibited items  
• endorsements and permits for those who could lawfully possess prohibited items, including further conditions  
• offences relating to possession of prohibited items  
• regulation-making powers that would be used to empower the buy-back  
• removing the concept of military-style semi-automatic firearms.

Arms Act 1983 | New Zealand Legislation website

On 19 June 2019, the Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Regulations 2019 were made by Order in Council and detailed provisions relating to the 2019 Firearms Amnesty and Buy-back Programme.

Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Regulations 2019 | New Zealand Legislation website

On 19 June 2019 the Arms (Prohibited Ammunition) Order 2019 was made by Order in Council. This Order detailed a schedule that included all ammunition declared prohibited ammunition.

Arms (Prohibited Ammunition) Order 2019 | New Zealand Legislation website

In September 2019 the Government signalled that further legislative changes were being considered. The Arms Legislation Bill was introduced on 13 September 2019, and would in June 2020 become passed into law as the Arms Legislation Act 2020.  

• Arms Legislation Bill | New Zealand Legislation website
• Arms Legislation Act 2020 | New Zealand Legislation website

On 25 November 2019 the Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Regulations (No 2) 2019 were made by Order in Council and detailed extensions to timeframes relating to the 2019 Amnesty and Buy-back.

Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Regulations (No 2) 2019 | New Zealand Legislation website

On 25 November 2019 the Arms (Prohibited Magazine) Order 2019 was made by Order in Council. This Order detailed that any drum magazine that could be attached to a pistol was declared to be a prohibited magazine.

Arms (Prohibited Magazine) Order 2019 | New Zealand Legislation website