Firearms

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (June 2024)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

How many formerly registered E-category firearms were moved from E-category to either P or C category registers?

How many formerly registered E-category firearms were purchased by the Government during the buybacks?

How many formerly registered E-category firearms were moved to A-category? Please break down into amount of shotguns, and rimfire rifles if possible.

How many formerly registered E-category firearms were unaccounted for after the buyback period concluded? Could you please provide a breakdown of the number of shotguns, rimfire rifles, and centerfire rifles that are unaccounted for.

To the day this OIA is lodged, of the firearms that were unaccounted for in question 4, how many are still unaccounted for. If possible, breakdown into shotgun, rimfire, and centerfire firearms.

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (October 2023)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

In the Manawatū region over the past 28 days, how many firearm incidents have been reported to Police? How many firearms have been recovered by Police? How many arrests in relation to firearms incidents have been made?

What prevention work is carried out by Police in regards to firearms? Have there been any injuries in any firearm incident over the past 28 days, to any of the parties involved? And what were the nature of those injuries?

I am seeking all information about calls to the police regarding airsoft (restricted airguns) cases for the current year 2023 and for 2022.

For example
1) Cases or records of restricted airguns being confiscated.
2) Cases or records of police getting calls regarding

a) restricted airguns not secured in hotels, motels or other businesses.
b) restricted airguns being used in an inappropriate way.

Proactive release of papers regarding the Arms Amendment Regulations 2022: Clubs and Ranges

In 2020, a number of changes were made to the Arms Act 1983 through the Arms Legislation Act 2020 to strengthen the control and regulation of firearms in New Zealand. On 24 June 2022 changes to the Arms Act, specifically Part 6 Shooting clubs and shooting ranges came into force.

To support the changes to the Arms Act, Police worked with the firearms community to develop proposed regulations. On 23 March 2022, Police released the discussion document relating to these proposed regulations, with submissions closing on 4 May 2022. The Amendment Regulations 2022 were published on 14 November 2022 and came into force on 15 December 2022 and are available on the New Zealand Legislation website.

The following papers being released relate to the discussion document on the clubs and ranges regulations and the policy process undertaken to develop the discussion document for the public consultation on the regulations.

Certain information in the documents has been withheld under one or more of the following sections of the Official Information Act 1982:

• Information is withheld under section 9(2)(a) to protect the privacy of natural persons.
• Information is withheld under section 6(c) as the making available of that information would be likely to prejudice the maintenance of the law, including the prevention, investigation, and detection of offences, and the right to a fair trial.
• Information is withheld under section 9(2)(f)(iv) where the withholding of the information is necessary to maintain the constitutional conventions for the time being which protect the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the Crown and officials.

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (October 2022)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

• How many people have been shot and killed by someone who holds a New Zealand firearms licence in the period between 01/01/2018 and 01/01/2019.
• How many people have been shot and killed by someone who holds a New Zealand firearms licence in the period between 01/01/2019 and 01/01/2020.
• How many people have been shot and killed by someone who holds a New Zealand firearms licence in the period between 01/01/2020 and 01/01/2021.
• How many people have been shot and killed by someone who holds a New Zealand firearms licence in the period between 01/01/2021 and 01/01/2022.
• How many people have been shot and killed by someone who holds a New Zealand firearms licence in the period between 01/01/2022 and 31/08/2022.

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (November 2022)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

Could you please advise me of the number of incidents where a firearm license holder was found to have been selling firearms to unlicensed individuals, for the period 2014 to 2020 if available, by year if possible?

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (August 2022)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

For each existing firearms license holder who has applied since 1 January 2020 to have their firearms license renewed, could you please advise:

1. The date their re-licensing application was received,
2. The date their license expired,
3. Whether their re-license was: Reissued, Revoked/Declined or Still Being Processed, and
4. The date their firearm license was re-issued.

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (September 2022)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

How many police officers had been shot, shot at, presented with a gun, and/or found a gun on duty.

How many times have police officers: shot an offender, fired at an offender, fired a gun, presented a gun, and/or armed themselves during a job.

Could I please get the data, updated to include 2020, 2021, and the first six months of 2022?

Could Police please provide updated gun crime data, including rates of gun crime, previously sent to me.

The data includes:

• Occurrences with firearms-related offences
• Occurrences with firearms-related offences per 100,000 estimated residents
• Occurrences with firearms-related offences where an injury was recorded
• Occurrences with firearms-related offences and murder or manslaughter with a firearm
• The data should be broken down monthly, and by police district.

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (July 2022)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

In particular, I'm after the number of MSSAs, and other accessories such as high capacity magazines that were the target of the buy-back schemes in the wake of the Christchurch shootings.

A list of incidents police were called to involving a discharge of a firearm in Auckland (including Counties Manukau, Waitemata and Auckland City districts) from January 1, 2022, to date, broken down in a table by date, street name and suburb.

How many shootings there has been this past 2 years of 2021 and 2022 to date. And how many of these incidents have been cleared.

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (June 2022)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

Number of processed fire arm applications by Central District for the last four years provided separately for every year.

Annual number of applications divided by approved and rejected applications for the same four years period.

Total number of staff processing firearm applications in Central District.

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (May 2022)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

Of these 4,212 firearms-related occurrences in the 2021 calendar year, it was interesting that 496 (11.8%) were also family harm. We would like to put this 11.8% figure into the context of the last few years. Is it possible to get the 2019 and 2020 figures of family harm incidents that were also firearms-related occurrences?

The police website states immigration is not a valid reason to obtain a visitor firearms license. How is a new migrate able to travel to New Zealand with Firearm's and legally possess them whilst their application for a full license is processed?

What is police policy about New Zealand firearms license holders who temporarily reside overseas bringing firearms back to New Zealand when they return?

What is the process for a New Zealand firearms license holder currently overseas to obtain an import permit in order to bring firearms back to New Zealand on their return?

What is the process for New Zealand FA license holders who residing overseas temporarily to bring with them B category firearms on there return to New Zealand where their current New Zealand license is only A cat but they are legally possessing a B cat firearm in the overseas jurisdiction? Can they bring the B cat firearm back with them and have the police or another New Zealand B cat holder take possession of firearm until they obtain the correct endorsement?

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (April 2022)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

Do you have a breakdown of the number of domestic violence incidents per year that involve the use of firearms? Is it possible to get this percentage?

As a part of the Arms Act 1983 S43A, online sales of arms items require a Mail Order form - FRM43A

I am requesting the following data for the years of 2020, 2021 and 2022;

1. Number of total FRM43A forms approved

2. Number of FRM43A forms approved for firearms - including those which included other arms items, such as parts and ammunition

3. Number of FRM43A forms approved exclusively for non-prohibited parts - excluding forms which also included firearms.

4. Number of FRM43A forms approved exclusively for ammunition – excluding forms which included other arms items.

I am seeking some data around the firearms licence applications for the mid Canterbury region.

How many licences have been approved in the last 12 months?

How many licences are waiting on approval?

The breakdown of those waiting between new and renewals?

The average wait time for a licences?

The process that has to be followed for gaining a licence?

Will Police be able to process the licences prior to the opening of the season?

Can you please confirm if the Government or Police Minister have requested evidence to show that the 2019 ban on semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles and the subsequent gun buyback scheme helped to reduce gun violence in New Zealand?

If the Government or Police Minister haven't requested that evidence, can Police please provide me with evidence to show that the 2019 ban on semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles and the subsequent gun buyback scheme helped to reduced gun violence in New Zealand?

Number of firearms injuries and deaths recorded by police from the time the GunSafe programme went live (December 2018 for Auckland, March 2019 for rest of country) to now. This should include incidents in which someone was injured or killed by a firearm, even if police were not present when this occurred.

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (September 2021)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

Over the past couple of years I’ve asked for gun crime data.

Under the OIA, could police provide the most up to date data. I’m just wanting the same type of information, monthly and by region, hopefully up until July this year

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (March 2022)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

In the last 10 years:

• How many people have been charged and/or convicted of stealing ammunition from gunshops
• How many people have been charged and/or convicted of stealing firearms from licensed owners' vehicles
• How many people have been charged and/or convicted of stealing ammunition from licensed owners' vehicles
• How many people have been charged and/or convicted of stealing firearms or ammunition from police vehicles
  

How many Aucklanders have been charged with owning an illegal firearm from the years 2011 - 2021?

How many Aucklanders have been charged with a fraudulent / fake firearm licence from the years 2011 - 2021?

How many Aucklanders were charged assault, murder, attempted murder and aggravated robbery where a firearm was involved from the years 2011-2021?

How many recorded incidents have there been in Auckland where firearms were involved from the years 2011 - 2021 (any incident at all)?

How many Aucklanders within the Auckland region have been killed, seriously injured or threatened with a firearm from the years 2011 - 2021?

The number of people, who hold a firearms licence, and who have no previous convictions, who are charged with an imprisonable offence which is not a firearms offence or which does not allege any involvement of firearms, who have their firearms licence revoked upon being charged.

I also request, by way of breakdown to the above data:

(1) The number of people above whose charges would, upon conviction, result in disqualification under s 22H of the Arms Act 1983; and

(2) The number of people who went on to be convicted of the offence(s) charged; and

(3) The number of people who have had their firearms revocation quashed or cancelled and their firearms licence reinstated or reissued as a result of a review:

(a) With the Police, under s 62 of the Arms Act; or

(b) On appeal through the District Court, under s 62B of the Arms Act or any equivalent provision.

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (Nov 2021)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

LEG-21-MIN-0157 (PDF 673KB)

On 8 October 2021 the Arms (Extension of Licences and Endorsements) Amendment Regulations 2021 came into force. These regulations extend the duration of certain firearms and dealers’ licences to address licence renewals that could not be (or will unable to be) completed before the original licence expires because of restrictions due to COVID-19 Alert Levels.

The document comprises advice provided to Cabinet on the need for, and development of, the Regulations.

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (April 2021)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

The police has updated their firearms crime statistics sheet as they do (https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/publication/firearms-data) however this information does not include the numbers for the crimes committed by firearms license holders and those committed by non firearms license holders. Can you please provide this information for me.

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (March 2021)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

Question about why gas powered pistols cannot be purchased at gun shops.

Firearms data

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (August 2020)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

IR-01-20-15393 (PDF 964KB)

Regarding the Arms Act 1983, the issuing and revocation of Firearms licences, and the constant requirement of the Firearms licence to be 'fit and proper';

1. What is the definition of 'Fit and proper'? Is there a police definition? Are there any guidelines or instruction given to commissioners of police to determine whether Firearms Licence owners are 'Fit and Proper'?
2. Are there any measures in place to ensure that commissioners of police are agreed on the same meaning of 'Fit and Proper'
3. If a licence is being considered for revocation because of no longer being 'fit and proper', who has the burden of proof? Does the commissioner of police need to provide evidence of that, or does the licence holder need to assert they are still 'fit and proper'?

IR-01-20-17383 (PDF 656KB)

Please can you inform me about when and how often firearms have been stolen from licensed owners.

Please also inform me of how often these thefts have been investigated and this has resulted in the stolen property being returned to its rightful owners.

Other related requests

1. In 2017, how many firearms were reported stolen from licenced firearm holders? How many from licenced dealers? Please provide for each police district and what type of firearm.
2. In 2017, how many firearms were reported stolen from unlicensed firearms holders and dealers? Please provide for each police district and what type of firearm.
3. In 2017, how many firearms were seized by police? Please provide for each police district and what type of firearm.
4. In 2017, how many firearms reported stolen were later recovered by police and returned to their owners? Please provide for each police district and what type of firearm.

• IR-01-19-1195 (PDF 729KB)

1. Between January 1 2018 and December 31 2018 (inclusive), how many firearms were reported stolen from licensed firearm holders? How many from licensed dealers? Please provide for each police district and what type of firearm.
2. Between January 1 2018 and December 31 2018 (inclusive), how many firearms were reported stolen from unlicensed firearm holders and dealers? Please provide for each police district and what type of firearm.
3. Between January 1 2018 and December 31 2018 (inclusive), how many firearms were seized by police? Please provide for each police district and what type of firearm.
4. Between January 1 2018 and December 31 2018 (inclusive), how many firearms reported stolen were later recovered by police and returned to their owners? Please provide for each police district and what type of firearm.
5. Of those firearms returned, what year were they reported missing?
   

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (July 2020)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

IR-01-20-16962 (PDF 945KB)

• Is this another blank gun?
• Has it been converted to fire real ammunition?
• If not, why are police AGAIN misleading the public?
• How many blank guns in the last ten years have been found by police to have had such conversions?

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (May 2020)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

IR-01- 20-3835 (PDF 655KB)

In 2018, I received an OIA showing gun offence data for 10 years, to the end of 2017.

I’d like to get an update on that data, from the beginning of 2018 until now.

Could I get the following, broken down by region and month, between January 2018 and January 2020.

• Occurrences with firearms-related offences
• Occurrences with firearms-related offences per 100,000 estimated residents
• Occurrences with firearms-related offences where an injury was recorded
• Occurrences with firearms-related offences and murder or manslaughter with a firearm

IR-01-20-13434 (PDF 945KB)

Relating to the story above – where are the missing guns?

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (March 2020)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

IR-01-19-8902 (PDF 1.63MB)

1. Advice received both internal (police) and external sources (expert advice) on the objectives and form of questions to be asked of applicants, near relative, referees.
2. Reviews of the objectives and form of questions to be asked of applicants, near relative, referees.
3. Questionnaires from the implementation of the Arms Act 1983 to date (and any iteration that incorporates a significant review/change i.e. minor adjustments/typographical corrections etc are not required) used by vetting staff for interviews with applicants, near relative and referees.

IR-01-19-9376 (PDF 680KB)

1. How many Australian citizens or prior residents have applied for a New Zealand firearms license in the last 10 years (broken down by year and citizenship or residency)
2. Out of how many of these applications has the New Zealand Police requested a criminal records check from Australian authorities?
3. How many licenses have been issued in the last 10 years, where the holder was later found to have had a criminal record in Australia? (broken down by year)
4. How many have these license holders have gone on to commit a criminal offense involving a firearm in New Zealand?
5. Was an Australian criminal check requested for Brenton Tarrant before he was granted his firearms license?

IR-01-19-9748 (PDF 683KB)

1. the number of privately owned firearms that are lost or stolen each year; and
2. the number of firearms that have been lost by, or stolen from, the Police.

IR-01-19-10517 (PDF 1.1MB)

I’m writing to ask if you can please supply data from 2000 to the present, showing number of licensed firearms owners in each district by year.

If you have a further breakdown by licence endorsements, that information would be very welcome, but not essential, please.

IR-01-19-10515 (PDF 672KB)

IR-01-19-10292 (PDF 980KB)

• How many firearms seizures did police make in 2017? How many people do the firearms seizures relate to?
• How many firearms seizures did police make in 2018? How many people do the firearms seizures relate to?
• How many firearms seizures did police make in 2019 – prior to March 19
• How many arrests were made in relation to the firearms seizures?

IR-01-19-12394 (PDF 9.14MB)

• Could I please get the number of application for gun licences for the past five years - from 2019 to 2015
• Could I please get that broken down into months and regions, and gender?
• Could I please get applications that were accepted - broken down by months, regions & gender for the same amount of time?
• Could I please get the amount of applications rejected by months, region & age for the same period?
• Can I please get the reasons applications were not accepted?
• Could I please largest amount time of times someone has been denied? And for what reasons? And the region they are from?
• Could I please get the get the age of the oldest holder of a gun licence and also the youngest?

Anything else you could offer me about this topic would be appreciated.

IR-01-19-13691 (PDF 577KB)

1. Since 1992 when the E Category classification for firearms was created, how many E Category firearms have been used in a criminal offence?
   Note: Please do not include those MSSA that are classified as an A Category firearm.
2. Of the above criminal offences if any that involved the use of an E Category firearm, how many of those were committed by the registered E Category Licensed firearm owner?
3. How many E Category firearms have been stolen since 1992?
4. How many of those stolen E Category firearms have been proven to be used in the commission of a criminal offence?

IR-01-19-15605 (PDF 1.31MB)

• How many gun licences have been revoked since March 15, and how many have been surrendered? Can I please have this by district with a national total?
• How many gun licences were revoked and how many surrendered each year since 2014? Can I please have this by district with a national total?
• Also how many people who have reported they had illegal guns to hand in have been raided since March 15.

IR-01-19-19935 (PDF 470KB)

• How many gun license holders have been convicted of a firearm crime in the last ten years?
• How many in the last five years of their ten year license – during this same period.

IR-01-19-23454 (PDF 814KB)

I have been told that:

1. A Wellington Arms Officer that was found not to have completed a great MANY vetting processes correctly due to massive backlog. He just signed off on the applications to clear the overload. When the failure came to light he was asked to resign.
2. No effort was made to vet the licenses he had issued as Police management (Wellington District Commander) when informed and asked 'what do we do with this issue'?, said 'it would be too much work' and that it would be easier to leave them until license renewals were required and re-vet them then.
3. The Palmerston North Police station evidence locker had a history of being broken into before the criminal managed to rob them of 11 firearms. Historic firearm thieves were internal, including more than one Senior Sargent from the station. They were ‘moved on’ from what I am told.

Is there any truth to these allegations?

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (July 2019)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

1. How many guns were relinquished in the Southland District between March 21 and March 28, 2019?
2. How many guns were relinquished in the Southland District between March 15 and March 21, 2019?
3. To which Southland police stations have guns been relinquished since March 21, 2019?
4. How many people hold gun licences in Southland as of March 28 2019?
5. How many semi-automatic guns licences were there in Southland, as of March 15?
6. How many firearms licenses have been declined in the Southland district between January 1 2014 and March 28 2019?
7. How many firearms licenses have been applied for in the Southland district between January 1 2014 and March 28 2019?
8. How many firearms licences have been granted in the Southland District between January 1 2014 and March 28 2019?

I am requesting data on firearm related homicides that have been carried out with persons holding a firearm licence.

Follow up to IR-01-18-12138.

I'm looking for the remaining data from the time period that request was filed, through to now.

The initial request supplies how many licensed firearm owners have been convicted of murder with a firearm, by year, for the last 20 years.

Would I be able to get a copy of those figures, as well as the figures for all of 2018 (as it is currently through to early December only) as well as and 2019 to date? These should be separated by year also.

Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (June 2019)

In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

Reference

Date of request

Information requested

• How many incidents since January 1, 2018 were firearms presented at police officers? Can I also have this divided by police district.
• Did any of the incidents involved licensed firearm owners? If so, how many?
• How many were imitation firearms?
• How many times were police actively fired upon?
• How many police officers were injured in these incidents?
• How many members of the public were injured in these incidents?
• How many prosecutions resulted from these incidents? I also request all correspondence with and reports prepared regarding a national project that's being done on to gather more specific data on the number and types of incidents where firearms are presented at officers.
  

• The number of firearms seized from visiting ships, by year, for the last ten years.
• The number of recovered stolen firearms that matched the serial numbers provided to police by shooting owners. By year, for the last ten years.
• The number of recovered firearms returned back to their owners who provided the serial numbers.
  

• How many reports have you received about white supremacist/neo-nazi extremism in the past three years?
• How many reports have you received about other forms of extremism in the past three years?
• How many of the above reports related to persons who hold a firearms license? Please breakdown by license class.
• A break down of all staff involved in the granting and monitoring of firearms licenses by:
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Ethnicity
  • Sworn vs non-sworn
  • Rank
  • Time in force

  (please interpret "involved in granting and monitoring" as broadly as possible.)
  

  • I'm working on a big feature for tomorrow's papers and online, and I've come across what looks to be an excellently laid out resource from police, on the parliament website, regarding the problem of illegal firearms in particular.
  • This document is likely a little out of date now though - the latest figures on it, going up to 2016. I was just hoping to check whether it was possible to get an update on some or all of these figures.
  • And on the number of legal firearms within NZ, I'm working to the widely-reported topline figures of about 250,000 firearms licenses issued, approx 1.5m guns thought to be in NZ. Is there anything else police might like to add to that picture of legal firearms?
  • Is it possible to know how many people roughly own Category A rifles, legally, which fall into the semi-automatic class? (Or is that we don't know, half the problem?)

  I am interested in information regarding the success rate of applications for firearm licences, and for firearm licence endorsements.
  Please release the following information for the years 2015-2019, broken down by year, by police district, and by successful and failed applications:

  1. The number of applications for each type of firearm licence…
     1. where the applicant has not previously held this type of licence.
     2. where the applicant has previously held this type of licence (i.e. applying for a renewal, or their licence had expired).
     1. where the applicant has not previously held this type of licence endorsement.
     2. where the applicant has previously held this type of licence endorsement (i.e. applying for a renewal, or their licence had expired).

     Please also explain any relevant caveats that should be kept in mind when analysing this information.

     I understand that some applications (particularly those made in 2019) may not yet have been fully completed, and therefore would not qualify as either successful or as failed. If the number of these applications is easy to include, I would be happy for it to be included. However, if it makes this request easier to process, I would also be happy for these applications to be excluded.

     Please provide this information in a machine-readable spreadsheet format, such as CSV or XLSX.
     

     • Are you able to tell me how many semi-automatic weapons have been given to the police since the shooting on Friday?
     • Could you break that down into how many each day?
     • In addition to how many have been handed in, are you able to tell me how many people have handed semi-automatic weapons in?
     • Also, how of any sort of guns in, including semi-automatics, have been handed in since Friday?
       
     • The number of people who have applied for a E endorsement on their firearms licence, and how many people have surrendered firearms (including how many of these were MSSAs) since Friday's terror attacks in Christchurch
       
     1. Can you please give me a breakdown on the number of people currently holding a gun license (known as ‘A license’?) and how many hold each endorsement on top of their license (B, C, E, D and F)?
     2. Also, can you please tell me in the last calendar year, how many people applied for a gun license, how many were declined, and how many gun license holders were declined a B, C, E, D or F endorsement?
     3. Can you please explain the role doctors/medical professionals may play in vetting firearms license/firearms endorsement applicants?
        On the firearms license application form under ‘What happens next’, it says, “Police will carry out an initial background check relevant to whether you are a fit and proper person to possess firearms or airguns,” and, “Police contact you to arrange an interview (during which we will also inspect your firearms security arrangements) after you complete the firearms practical training. We also interview your referees and complete any remaining enquiries,” and, “Police make a decision to approve or refuse your firearms licence application and issue your firearms card.”
     4. During any of these steps, is the applicant, and the applicant’s referees, directly asked if the applicant has any criminal, psychiatric or drug issues?
     5. What happens if there is a disparity between the applicant and referee answers?
     6. Who in the police makes the final decision on whether a firearms license is granted/declined, does the applicant have right of appeal?

     1. A list of current New Zealand firearms licences, identified by the following information:
        • Type of licence (eg. dealer licence, visitor's licence)
        • Gender of licence holder
        • Age of licence holder
        • Endorsements on the licence
     2. The total number of firearms licence holders and the total number of firearms licences with each endorsement type per region in New Zealand.

     I would be most grateful if you could provide me with the number of women who have been issued with a firearms licences for each of the past five years. For context, please also provide me with the total granted in each of the years.
     

     I am making a request under the Official Information Act, for answers to questions about guns in the Whanganui policing area.

     1. Can you tell me the boundaries of that area?
     2. Can you tell me how many people have handed in guns to Whanganui Police since the mosque shootings on March 15?
     3. Also, what types of weapons have been handed in, and how many of each?
     4. And, if possible, what purpose the owners of those weapons may have had for possessing them?
     5. Can you, also, say how many people in the Whanganui Police area own semi or automatic rifles and pistols? Or have licences and endorsements that would allow that?
        
     1. How many criminal incidents involving each of the following categories of firearm, legally held by a licensed owner, were committed by that owner in the last 10 years (since 28 March, 2009) A, B, C, E
     2. How many criminal incidents involving legally held, but illegally modified A-Cat firearms were committed by their owner in the last 10 years?
     3. How many criminal incidents involving any firearm were committed by persons not legally entitled to hold that category of firearm? (excluding illegally altered A-Cat which are illegal for any person to possess)
     4. Of each of the above six scenarios, how many of these incidents resulted in personal injury to a person or persons other than the perpetrator?
        
     • In each of the last five years, how many firearms have been confiscated in Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupo and Eastern Bay of Plenty districts?
     • Of these, what types of firearms were confiscated?
     • Where were these firearms usually confiscated from? (Usually found during drug raids, or are they confiscated from vehicles, or while other police work is being undertaken?)
     • How many people in Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupo and Eastern Bay of Plenty districts have gun licences? And can we please have a breakdown of how many have which kind of gun licence such as "E"?
     • How many people in each of these districts have had their gun licenses revoked in each of the last five years and why?
       
     • A monthly breakdown beginning January 2018, detailing the number of illegal firearms seized by police in the Counties Manukau Policing District.
     • Where possible, I ask police give an indication of which type of firearms have been seized.
     • A monthly and geographical breakdown beginning January 2018, detailing the number of illegal firearms seized by police in each NZ Policing district.
       

     Follow up to IR-01-19-1419 and IR-01-19-6719.

     • How many of the firearms that were not airguns/imitation were seized from dealers and how many were returned.
       
     • How many firearms offences were police called to in the month before and after the Christchurch terror attack?
     • How many firearms offences were police called to from February 14 to March 14 2019?
     • How many firearms offences were police called to from March 16 to April 16 2019?
     • Please break down by region.
     • Please include how many incidents resulted in charges.
       

     How much revenue does the police get from annual firearms licences, and how much does it cost to administer the scheme (new gun control lobby group argues the firearms licence scheme is effectively subsidised by taxpayers as it costs far more to administer compared to the cost of a licence)? is it possible to get this info per year for the last five years?
     

     How many guns were handed in on average before the Christchurch attacks? Either average monthly or weekly figures for the last 6 months?

     Firearms Official Information Act proactive public releases (May 2019)

     Date Published:

     In keeping with the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018, and as Administrator of the Arms Act 1983, Police is releasing its responses to some recent Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information that has wider public interest.

     For more information, go to Firearms and safety.

     Reference

     Date of request

     Information requested

     1. How many firearms, sold to the public by the armed services, have later been found in the hands of criminals?
     2. List these arms.
        
     1. Can I please find out for each of the past five years (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, and 2014 respectively) how many people have enrolled for the firearms safety programme?
     2. Can I please also get a break down for each of those five years of how many people passed and how many people failed?
     3. Can I please also get the same set of data regarding any renewal process involved in the firearms safety programme (how many in each of the five years and the pass/fail rate)?
        
     1. Between January 1 2018 and December 31 2018 (inclusive), how many firearms were reported stolen from licensed firearm holders? How many from licensed dealers? Please provide for each police district and what type of firearm.
     2. Between January 1 2018 and December 31 2018 (inclusive), how many firearms were reported stolen from unlicensed firearm holders and dealers? Please provide for each police district and what type of firearm.
     3. Between January 1 2018 and December 31 2018 (inclusive), how many firearms were seized by police? Please provide for each police district and what type of firearm.
     4. Between January 1 2018 and December 31 2018 (inclusive), how many firearms reported stolen were later recovered by police and returned to their owners? Please provide for each police district and what type of firearm.
     5. Of those firearms returned, what year were they reported missing?
        
     • How many call-outs have police been to in the past year where firearms have been located?
     • How many call-outs have police been to in the past year where firearms have been used by an alleged offender?
     • How many call-outs have police been to in the past year where firearms had to be used by police officers for either protection or against an armed offender?

     Can EACH call-out be categorised under the appropriate category: ie. burglaries, robberies, property search, pursuit, failure to stop for officers, etc.
     

     • How many times in the years 2015, 2016 and 2018 were firearms presented at police officers?
     • Did any of the incidents involved licensed firearm owners? If so, how many?
     • How many were imitation firearms?
     • How many times were police fired upon?
     • How many police officers were injured in these incidents?
     • How many members of the public were injured in these incidents?
     • I’d like all of these broken down by year, please.
     • How many times have police armed frontline staff in the past five years.
     • When, where and why, for each arming?
     • How many firearms does police have (broken down by pistols, bushrangers/rifles and any other firearms). I require a comparison to the number of firearms (broken down by type) police had in 2008.
       
     1. The number of visitor firearms licences issued and declined for the past 5 years broken down into month and year, age group, nationality and the reason for declining it?
     2. The number of firearm licences issued and or declined to 16, 17 and 18-year-olds in NZ for the past 5 years broken down into month and year, gender, region/city and the reason for declining it?
     3. The number of firearm licences that's been revoked or where the holder has been deemed unfit to carry a firearm for the past 5 years also broken down into month and year, region/city and the reason for revoking it.
        
     1. How many of these seized arms were actual firearms? Not airsoft toys or airguns. How many were arms that discharge a project by force of explosive gases?
        
     • Under the Official Information Act, I’d like to know the average length of time it took for people to obtain a firearms license in 2017 and 2018. I’d also like to know the shortest, and longest, length of time it took for someone to get a license.
     • Further to this, I’d like to know how many people applied for a license, and how many were accepted or declined, during 2017 and 2018.
     • If the renewal of a license is different to obtaining a new license, I’d also like to know the average length of time it took for people to renew their license, and again, the shortest and longest length of time it took to renew, in 2017 and 2018.
       
     • How many licensed firearms holders are there in Taranaki?
     • How many 'E' category license holders are there in Taranaki?
       

     Regarding the statement about the Christchurch terror attack, in your statement you said the accused provided two further referees who met the requirements.

     1. According to the form, one referee needs to be a spouse, partner, or next of kin that is domiciled in New Zealand. How did you check that the accused was in a relationship or related to this person?
     2. If it turns out there was a lie written on the form and due diligence was not taken in the checks, will charges be made against the person/ people police interviewed?
     3. Will any police officers be censured if it turns out that incorrect information was put on the form, and not properly researched?
     4. What checks are in place to ensure people are not lying/ all information supplied is correct when obtaining their gun license?
     5. Can you please tell me what the threshold is for “knowing someone well” as stated on the gun license application form?
     6. Can you please tell me the number of people, who do not have New Zealand citizenship or residency visas hold a New Zealand gun license?
     7. How many people on short term visas to New Zealand hold gun licenses?
     8. How many people on student visas hold New Zealand gun licenses?
     9. Is it a requirement that police talk to each referee for gun licenses face to face, and how do you confirm that has happened?