Te Tari Pureke – Firearms Safety Authority has made a policy change allowing high-capacity non-detachable prohibited magazines affecting rimfire 0.22 calibre rifles (lever, bolt or pump action) to be modified under certain circumstances.

This means licence holders may have a new pathway for making these firearms legally complaint so they can be retained by the licence holder.

In April 2019, in the immediate aftermath of the Christchurch terror attacks, changes were made to reduce the number of semi-automatic firearms and large capacity magazines in our communities. Large capacity magazines had been exploited in Christchurch mosques attacks and had also been identified as a common feature of many mass casualty shootings in other countries.

These changes meant 0.22 calibre firearms (lever, bolt, and pump actions) with with non-detachable tubular magazines of a capacity of more than 10 rounds became ‘prohibited’ firearms at this time. These 0.22 calibre firearms wouldn’t be prohibited but for the capacity of the tubular magazine.

Recently, Te Tari Pūreke has noted a number of licence holders trying to register their now prohibited 0.22 calibre firearms – those with large tubular magazines.

To assist these licence holders with 0.22 calibre firearms with large tubular magazines become legally compliant, Te Tari Pūreke has included a new modification pathway.

Modifications can include removing the magazine inner tube; removing the magazine completely; or modifying the magazine inner tube to accept only 10 rounds or less.

Registering their firearm is the only pathway for modification and the first step for licence holders seeking to modify their 0.22 is to register the firearm. They will then be contacted by Te Tari Pūreke Compliance Team and solutions will be discussed. Licence holders have some other choices, along with the new modification option. They can also:
•    Surrender the firearm to the Police or a dealer for destruction
•    Seek an Heirloom/Memento endorsement and permit (having met the criteria) 
•    Seek a Collectors endorsement and permit (having met the criteria).

The licence holder choosing to modify will then need to arrange for their firearm to be modified by a gunsmith.

Licence holders who have previously modified their 0.22 rifle prior to this policy change will also be able to have these modifications considered. The licence holder will need to get a declaration from a qualified gunsmith that the previous work modifying the tubular magazine is now compliant and permanent.

It is important to note this policy change effects .22 calibre or lower bolt, pump, and lever action attached magazines only. Semi-automatic .22 rifles, prohibited centrefire rifles and shotguns remain prohibited and modification of any of these unlawfully held items remains not permitted.

See our ‘Backgrounder’ for more on this policy change.

ENDS.