新枪支法案：投资公共安全与持牌枪械权益
副司法部长妮可·麦基（Nicole McKee）对2026年预算中拨款4,490万纽币表示欢迎，该资金将用于实施新的《枪支法》，并建立“新西兰枪支安全与教育机构”（Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand），作为新的独立枪支监管机构。
麦基表示：
“这笔资金确保新西兰能够建立一个公平、高效、现代化的枪支体系，同时不会让持牌枪械拥有者面临大幅度费用上涨。”
“如果没有这项投资，枪支体系将面临严重资金缺口，可能导致枪支执照费用上涨至目前的六倍半。”
“持牌枪械拥有者多年来一直被针对和污名化。在新制度的好处尚未实现之前就提高费用，只会加剧这种不公平待遇。”
“如果将人们排除在持牌体系之外，还可能导致合规性下降，并推动枪支流入灰色市场，从而削弱公共安全。”
“更广泛的公众也受益于良好运作的枪支许可体系，包括更好的公共安全、害兽控制，以及猎人和休闲射击者在保护与环保方面的贡献。”
“因此，将系统成本在持牌枪械拥有者与纳税人之间分担是合理的，而不是完全由某一群体承担。”
“这笔资金将使枪支监管从警方体系中分离出来，提高持牌用户的信任与信心，同时让警方更专注于执法工作。”
“大约470万纽币将用于设立新的‘枪支许可审查委员会’，让持牌枪械拥有者可以在独立平台上对监管机构的决定提出挑战。”
“2026年预算还通过专项预留资金支持枪支信息系统现代化，以提供更高效、可靠和更友好的许可服务。”
该信息技术系统专项资金的具体金额被保密，以保护政府在商业谈判中的利益。
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has welcomed Budget 2026 funding of $44.9 million to implement the new Arms Act and establish Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand, the new independent firearms regulator.
“This funding ensures New Zealand can deliver a fair, effective, and modern firearms system without lumping licenced firearm owners with massive fee increases,” says Mrs McKee.
“Without this investment, the firearms system faced a major funding shortfall that could have increased firearms licence fees to up to six and a half times their current level.
“Licenced firearm owners have been targeted and vilified for years. Hiking fees before any benefits of the new firearms system have been realised would compound years of unfair treatment.
“Pricing people out of the licensing system also risks driving disengagement, eroding compliance, and pushing firearms into the grey market. That would weaken public safety.
“The wider public benefits from a well-functioning firearms licensing system, including through improved public safety, pest control, and conservation work carried out by hunters and recreational shooters.
“That is why it makes sense for the costs of the system to be shared between licenced firearm owners and taxpayers, rather than falling solely on one group.
“This funding will enable the separation of firearms regulation from Police, improving the trust and confidence of licenced firearms owners while allowing Police to focus on enforcement.
“Approximately $4.7 million of the funding will go towards establishing the new Firearms Licensing Review Committee, giving licensed firearm owners access to an independent forum to challenge decisions made by the regulator.
“Budget 2026 also secures funding through a tagged contingency to modernise firearms ICT systems, helping deliver a more efficient, reliable, and user-friendly licensing system into the future.”
The value of the ICT contingency is being withheld to protect the Crown’s commercial negotiating position.
