5. Question No. 5—JusticeMARK CAMERON (ACT) to the Associate Minister of JusticeQuestion No. 5—Justice5. MARK CAMERON (ACT) to the Associate Minister of Justice: Why is this Government rewriting the Arms Act 1983?Hon NICOLE McKEE (Associate Minister of Justice): The Arms Act is over 40 years old and does need modernising. In 2019 and 2020 rushed changes were made to the Arms Act. Despite two law changes and two expensive firearms confiscations New Zealanders are no safer despite promises that they would be. More people were convicted of a firearm-related offence in 2023 than in 2019; it is up 18 percent. From 2019 to 2023 almost 2000 gang members were charged with unlawful possession of firearms. This Government is committed to rewriting the Arms Act to target the real problem and increase public safety.Mark Cameron: What feedback has she received on why change is needed?Hon NICOLE McKEE: I regularly receive correspondence from former and current police officers. A recent email reads As a front-line officer and association member I can confidently say that the changes to the Arms Act have not improved public safety or prevented criminals from accessing firearms. Instead they seem to target law-abiding citizens." The numbers show that that officer is correct. Mark Cameron: What measures is the coalition Government taking to crack down on illegal firearms?Hon NICOLE McKEE: The previous Government spent more than $150 million on two firearms confiscations promising to get illegal firearms off the streets once and for all. Since then police have come across and seized more than 8500 firearms in the line of duty—firearms that criminals never intended to hand in in 2019. The coalition Government knows that targeting law-abiding licensed firearm owners will not reduce the gun crime. That is why we are strengthening firearms prohibition orders to give police greater powers to search gang members and violent offenders for illegally held firearms.Mark Cameron: Is the Government undertaking consultation as part of its Arms Act rewrite?Hon NICOLE McKEE: Yes. In 2019 the previous Government allowed only three days for select committee submissions and changed the Arms Act in just 10 days. This undemocratic process marginalised and disrespected those who deserved a say on the laws that are impacting them. The coalition Government has done initial focused consultation with several stakeholder groups representing a cross-section of New Zealand society including both firearm-owning and non - firearm-owning groups. This consultation is in addition to the select committee processes which will allow every New Zealander the chance to have their say. Hon Ginny Andersen: Does she maintain that A category firearms should be excluded from the firearms registry; if so why given that Alfa Carbines are incredibly popular with the criminal underworld and that 71 percent of seizures of police weapons are from the A category classification which includes Alfa Carbines?Hon NICOLE McKEE: As I've previously mentioned of those 70 percent of A category firearms that have been found by New Zealand police 65 percent of them don't actually have a serial number on them. I am committed to ensuring that the review of the registry will give us data and evidence as to how it can be effective if indeed it needs to stay."