9. Question No. 9—PoliceCHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 9—Police9. CHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of Police: Does he stand by all his statements policies and actions in relation to the Government's firearms buy-back scheme?Hon STUART NASH (Minister of Police): Yes and I would expect all MPs to support police in their work to implement legislation that nearly every member voted for. It is disappointing that the Opposition spokesperson feels a need to constantly undermine our police at public meetings when I think they do a fantastic job of keeping our communities safe.Chris Bishop: Is it correct as a member of the Firearms Community Advisory Forum and an expert involved in helping KPMG devise the pricing scheme for the buy-back says that the experts had just five hours to devise the pricing scheme and is this really a fair way to treat the thousands of licensed firearms owners who'll be potentially thousands of dollars out of pocket?Hon STUART NASH: Well I have seen reports that a large gun owner said that he is encouraging people to comply with the law I've seen another gun owner say that he thinks the price is reasonable and I think we have landed at the right place.Chris Bishop: Point of order.SPEAKER: No I don't need a point of order. I'm going to ask the Minister to at least address the question. Hon STUART NASH: Mr Speaker yes.Chris Bishop: Why are accessories only being compensated at up to 70 percent of the value when the experts involved in the pricing process and KPMG agreed they should be compulsorily acquired at full retail value?Hon STUART NASH: Because we think we've got the value right at 70 percent if they're in near-new condition. Chris Bishop: Does he stand by his statement You know this is not about ripping people off. This is about paying fair market value for these firearms" and why are thousands of licensed firearms owners saying that the price list for the compulsory acquisition of their firearms does indeed rip them off?Hon STUART NASH: Well that's interesting because I have seen reports where a large gun dealer has said he will encourage gun owners to comply I've seen a spokesperson for the gun lobby say that her organisation would be encouraging people to follow the law and I've seen the owner of The Gunshack in Blenheim say quote "In reality the price is fair."Ginny Andersen: What reports has the Minister seen about inquiries to the police website and the 0800 number from firearms owners?Hon STUART NASH: Thousands of gun owners are already playing their part to make the country a safer place and have handed in their weapons or have notified police that they intend to. This amounts to more than 5000 weapons. Since March police have also seized around 700 unlawful weapons during the ordinary course of policing. There have been almost 800 calls since the buy-back details were announced. Of the phone calls received on average around 80 percent of calls were positive and only 5 percent of calls have been negative. Police have had over 32000 views to the dedicated firearms page on their website and have announced the community collection points for the first three months.Chris Bishop: Why is there no pricing information for Bushmaster AR-15 rifles of which there are thousands in New Zealand?Hon STUART NASH: We have always been clear that if there is a weapon that is now prohibited that is not on the list the commissioner has the ability to amend that list.Chris Bishop: Why is no compensation being offered for now prohibited ammunition made illegal by Order in Council and for safes that people have spent thousands of dollars investing in for firearms they are no longer allowed to own?Hon STUART NASH: Well as the Minister of Finance alluded to there were no tanks in the Wellbeing Budget so I don't see why Kiwis need armour-piercing bullets."