Arbuckle Jamie; Salesa JennyJAMIE ARBUCKLE (NZ First): Thank you Madam Speaker. Before I speak on the bill I'd just like to acknowledge your new role as well. So congratulations and it's a pleasure.I rise on behalf of New Zealand First to speak on the Firearms Prohibition Orders Legislation Amendment Bill. Firstly this bill is about reducing firearm crime and that is something I think everyone in New Zealand would like to see done. It's also about reducing the risk around high-risk offenders and a lot of the stuff that the bill touches on is around those high-risk offenders and actually putting restrictions on them. Just as we've heard from the chair of the Justice Committee James Meager we heard or received 40 submissions on this bill and heard 11 oral submissions. There were as we heard different views on whether we should make some changes. As we have heard from the chair—and what I'll outline as I go through—we have strengthened this bill in a number of ways. One thing I'd like to say is this is another tool in the tool box for the police.Hon Dr Duncan Webb: The old tool in the tool box" line.JAMIE ARBUCKLE: As much as the Opposition seems at the moment not to want to give the police further tools to actually crack down on crime and gun crime and on gangs this is another tool in their tool box. You would think everyone in this House—in being an MP and looking after our constituents—would want to look and give the police as much tools to control crime as possible. But unfortunately often in this House and actually through select committee for some reason there seems to be some suspicion around what the police actually do in their actual role. I know for one that New Zealand First supports the police. We support what they do. Unfortunately recently we heard from a member on the other side of the House "who would you rather meet in an alleyway?". I know for sure if I was in an alleyway and somebody had a gun I'd rather the police officer would be the person with that gun—Hon Dr Duncan Webb: Yeah than a New Zealand First member!JAMIE ARBUCKLE: —than a gang member. So this bill is about public safety—Shanan Halbert: What are you doing in alleyways?JAMIE ARBUCKLE: I'm still getting heckled from the other side because they'd rather see gang members in the alleyway than a police officer. But as most New Zealanders would say police officers are the right way to go about things. But public safety is this bill; it's about providing further public safety it's about stopping violent crime and it's about restoring law and order. Through the bill we look at how disqualifications of an offender come about. If I just go to the bill: the disqualifications of an offender from obtaining a firearms licence prohibits the offender from accessing firearms and restricted weapons. And it gives the examples that the offender must not associate with persons in possession of firearms or reside at or visit locations at which firearms are stored. So that gives that further protection.One part that we haven't heard about is it also gives a review process and that's important too because if somebody has a firearms prohibition order (FPO) against them now after a five-year period there's actually a process where that can be appealed: it can be varied or revoked. So that actually is a part of the bill that someone with a protection FPO against them hasn't been able to do in the past. So that's actually the second part here in the bill.We've heard also from the chair of the Justice Committee about the "without cause" search and how we've strengthened that too around the word "believe"—the police must "believe" that that person has a FPO against them before they can actually go in and search. But again that is about public safety and actually providing that actual level of protection for our constituents. So New Zealand First supports this bill because it strikes the right balance between enhancing public safety and ensuring fairness in its application. The amendments recommended by the Justice Committee improve the bill by focusing its reach on those who generally pose a risk without overreaching into the lives of innocent individuals. The inclusion of serious crimes under the Crimes Act such as offences against the person and property ensures that FPOs are applied where they are most needed against those involved in violent or organised criminal activities. This targeted approach is in line with our commitment to effective and just law enforcement. Furthermore the adjustments to warrantless search powers reflect a careful consideration of civil liabilities. By requiring a "belief" rather than mere suspicion the bill ensures the police actions are grounded in a higher level of certainty which is a critical safeguard against potential misuse.In conclusion New Zealand First supports this bill because it is necessarily a step to protecting New Zealanders from the threat of gun violence particularly in the context of gang and organised crime. It is a sensible focused and balanced piece of legislation that will contribute to a safer New Zealand. On that note I commend this bill to the House.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa): The next call is a split call between Te Pāti Māori and the Green Party and I call on Tākuta Ferris for five minutes."