Category: Politics

Source: Radio New Zealand

Firearms owners say the government’s overhaul of gun laws doesn’t go far enough to undo the “damage that was done” after the 15 March terror attacks.

A Muslim leader, meanwhile, told MPs to consider public safety over what was convenient for firearms owners.

Parliament’s Justice Committee has been hearing in-person submissions on the country’s new gun regulations, put forward in the Arms Bill.

Many licensed firearms owners expressed concerns the changes don’t go far enough, while the Police Association has criticised the new regulator being set up without sworn officers.

Support ‘with reservations’ from firearms groups

On Monday morning, MPs heard from firearms groups, gun control advocates, and the union representing police.

Much of the submissions from firearms groups focused on their problems with the existing legislation, and whether they thought the new bill would assuage them.

The New Zealand Deerstalkers Association supported the bill, with “some reservations,” feeling it did not go far enough.

“It fails to meaningfully unwind many of the bad policy decisions, the over regulation and the structural failures introduced since 2019, said chief executive Gwyn Thurlow.

“Farmers, land owners, and conservation agencies are calling for more effective game animal control and pest eradication and biodiversity outcomes but successive governments had stigmatised the use of firearms. This has not been resolved by this bill.”

Thurlow felt political fear and media pressure had “constrained” the bill.

“When lawful, fit and proper people exit the system because it has become too difficult, too intrusive, too hostile to engage with, public safety is not improved.”

Zac Dodunski, from the Taranaki branch of the New Zealand Antique and Historical Arms Association said the new legislation was the “first steps” in the right direction, considering the “damage that was done” post-Christchurch.

Fish and Game New Zealand supported the bill, but suggested “practical gaps” could be filled, such as making agency-owned firearms registered to the agency, not the individual employee.

The bill would also keep the firearms registry implemented after the 15 March attacks.

Despite supporting the intent of the bill, the Council of Licensed Firearms Owners (COLFO) said there remained a level of mistrust from firearms owners that information would be kept safe.

“The continued perception that the registry will magically solve gun crime, despite worldwide evidence to the contrary, will continue to be a bureaucratic burden around the New Zealand taxpayer’s neck,” said COLFO’s chair Brad Gallop.

New regulator questioned

The new regulator, without sworn police officers, was also met with concern.

The Police Association’s president Steve Watt said it was appropriate that the governance of the regulator and the enforcer were the same.

“Police being part of the FSA is an extremely important issue for us, as it does provide safety and security for our members, in the sense that there is coherent information sharing, and there is a robust system in place whereby we can share that information and make sure that safety and security is at the forefront,” he said.

“When we consider all the things that can be simplified, firearms isn’t one of them.”

Philippa Yasbek, co-founder of Gun Control NZ, said the bill’s “hostility” towards police involvement in the regulator was risky.

Yasbek said the bill was “not terrible, but it is messy” and anticipated Parliament would have to fix the legislation “many, many times” if the bill was passed in its current state.

But COLFO supported the change, with Gallop calling for a separate legal entity to ensure distinct separation of powers.

He had concerns that the FSA would still be part of police from a budgetary perspective, meaning police could still have influence on the FSA.

“There are still some issues around the bureaucracy that has been created by the FSA that have overly complicated licensed firearms owners to both renew their license and also transact on a day to day basis with the FSA,” he said.

“The issue we have is not with licensed firearms owners’ ability to register their firearms. The issue is the mistrust within the firearms community of the ability of the police at the moment to keep that information safe.”

The process of appointing a chief executive to the FSA was “significant,” Yasbek said, as she felt it was an “unconstitutionally precedented arrangement.”

She called for a merit-based appointment, with the process led by the Public Service Commission, instead of one appointed by the Governor-General.

“The risk cuts both ways, it could be that someone’s appointed who I think is far too close to the gun lobby. Alternatively, governments change, and suddenly it’s someone who’s seen as completely hostile to gun owners.”

Abdur Razzaq from the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand also opposed the method of appointing a chief executive.

“There needs to be a merit-based approach, and when that merit-based approach is bypassed by political appointees, under whatever guise, I don’t think we could accept that.”

Razzaq said the convenience of lawful firearms owners should never come above public safety, and called on the committee to keep the “tangible grief, the lasting grief, the memory, and the legacy” of the 51 people who died in the terror attacks in mind as it considered the bill.

“The bill is not only about making the whole licensing system more efficient, it is not only about making the system more convenient for lawful users, and there are many Muslim licensed gun users. It should also be about, does it make New Zealand safer? We request this last metric be the central argument in your deliberations. That should be the litmus test.”

He told the MPs on the committee the future of the nation’s safety and wellbeing was in their hands.

“You will be accountable,” he said.

What does the bill do?

The bill as introduced would repeal and replace the 1983 Act, introducing new penalties and tougher restrictions for gang members.

Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee had sought a carve out for competitive shooters to access military-style semi-automatic firearms, but failed.

It would also reform the Firearms Safety Authority without sworn police officers, and headed up by its own chief executive, who would report to the firearms minister, instead of the police minister.

At its first reading in December, Labour supported the bill, while the Greens and Te Pāti Māori opposed it.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/02/firearms-owners-say-gun-laws-overhaul-doesnt-go-far-enough-to-undo-damage/

Source: Radio New Zealand

National has announced that, if re-elected, it would ban ring-net fishing in some areas of the Hauraki Gulf, but the policy they’ve promised to reverse was their own

The battle has been long – fish versus fishing.

Now, the fight over the future of the Hauraki Gulf has erupted again, this time over politics, promises and what policy critics call a backflip.

Nine months out from the election, the National Party has pledged to ban the controversial practice of ring-netting in 12 high protection zones and to review rules around bottom trawling corridors. Currently, two high-protection zones can be accessed by five commercial fishers.

Announced by conservation minister Tama Potaka, the new policy pushes against a decision his own government made last year and comes as a “confusing” blow to Seafood New Zealand.

“The health of our oceans and the sustainability of our fisheries resources are absolutely critical to us,” Seafood New Zealand chief executive Lisa Futschek tells ‘The Detail’. “Without that, we don’t have businesses, we don’t create jobs and we don’t supply healthy protein to Kiwis,

“We work really hard on these credentials, but the policy reversal… I really do question whether it is about sustainability.”

She says the five fishers allowed to fish in the two high-protection areas “run small family businesses, they have been fishing in the area for decades, it’s really low impact, they have small boats… and their nets are hand set and hauled”.

“It’s hard to argue this is a sustainability measure,” Futschek says. “It’s really unfortunate, because these ring-net fishers were caught in what are now high-protection areas, lines were drawn, their operations weren’t considered and it really is unfair.”

“The exceptions that the government made were just transitions for these guys, so they could adapt their businesses and prepare for some time in the future, when those exceptions were no longer allowed.

“The fact that the National caucus has decided to roll those back early – or certainly they are electioneering on that promise – is really confusing to us, because it isn’t about sustainability and we would like to understand what it is really about.”

Newsroom senior business journalist Andrew Bevin, who is covering the story, tells ‘The Detail’ the policy backflip is a surprise move by the National Party.

“It’s not often you see someone campaigning to undo their own decision as an election policy,” says Bevin, whose story ran under the headline ‘Fisheries emerges as unlikely election battleground’.

“To come out with a fisheries policy nine months before the election tells you that this is something we are going to have a real discussion about this year.”

He says National has opted to campaign for this new policy, because the current situation is “just so unpopular”.

“It’s become a poster child of what has been seen as an anti-environmental agenda from the coalition and this perceived favouring of industry over fishing rights for the public – recreational fishermen, who are cut out of these high protection areas.”

Environmental groups, scientists and recreational fishers have long been vocal that the Gulf is under pressure like never before.

They point to declining biodiversity, stressed fish stocks and seabeds scarred by trawling, but Futschek argues that commercial fishers are being unfairly painted as ocean villains when, in their view, they’re among the most regulated fishers in the world.

“To say that the commercial fishing industry is responsible for the decline in biodiversity and ecosystems in the Gulf is simply wrong,” she says. “Putting the blame at our feet is completely unfair and I reject that.”

She says quotas, monitoring and strict rules already govern what they can catch – and further bans could cripple businesses, coastal jobs and food supply chains.

She believes the current setup works.

“New Zealand can be hugely proud of a quota-management system that has seen our stocks revive, has seen us fishing sustainably, has seen us the envy of the world, really, in terms of the way we manage our fishery.”

She says the seafood industry is adapting – trialling new gear, reducing seabed impact, investing in sustainability – but trust, she admits, is harder to rebuild than a fish stock.

That may be the real battle here. Not just fish versus fishing – but credibility versus suspicion.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/02/the-detail-net-fishing-is-in-then-out-again/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has told Morning Report the Iranian regime is an evil one and has been a destabilising force in the Middle East.

But he would not be drawn on whether the government supports the strikes by the United States and Israel against Tehran.

Asked by presenter Corin Dann whether New Zealand supported the attacks on Iran, Luxon said it condemned the Iranian regime as evil and as having claimed countless lives.

“We understand fully why the Americans and the Israelis have undertaken the independent action that they’ve taken.

“Our position is the same as the Australian position.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday the government supported the United States acting to stop Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.

Pressed on whether the strikes were legally right, Luxon said it would be up to the US and Israel to explain the legal basis for their attacks the attack.

Former Prime Minister Helen Cark has called the government’s stance a disgrace and says New Zealand should support a rules-based international order.

Luxon said what was disgraceful was the repressive Iranian regime which had killed thousands of its own people who had taken to the streets calling for freedoms.

“Iran has been a destabilising force. It has supported armed proxies throughout the region. It has seen tens of thousands of people murdered by own government, who were asking for freedom and rights.”

In a statement on Sunday, Luxon and Foreign Affairs Minister and Winston Peters said New Zealand had consistently condemned Iran’s nuclear programme and its “destabilising activities” in the region and “acknolwedged” the strikes.

“Iran has, for decades, defied the will and expectations of the international community. The legitimacy of a government rests on the support of its people. The Iranian regime has long since lost that support,” they said.

“In this context, we acknowledge that the actions taken overnight by the US and Israel were designed to prevent Iran from continuing to threaten international peace and security.”

Luxon and Peters condemned in the “strongest terms Iran’s indiscriminate retaliatory attacks” on neighbouring states.

The statement also said “we call for a resumption of negotiations and adherence to international law.”

Clark told Morning Report said the statement was a disgrace.

“What was wrong with it was it didn’t call out the illegal strike against Iran in the middle of diplomatic negotiations “which were going quite well and further talks were scheduled”.

“The whole point of international law is to put rules around when force is legitimate,” she said.

“A strike is justified if there is an imminent threat of attack, which clearly there was not.”

She said the initial strikes by the US and Israel violated international law.

“The New Zealand government seems only interested in the Iranian retaliation and not looking at the reason for the retaliation, which was the attack by the United States and Israel,” she said.

“I think it’s consistent with a steady drift in New Zealand foreign policy to realign strongly with the United States, which at this particular time seems even more questionable as a strategy.”

“We’re not putting a stake in the ground in defence of the international rule of law.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/02/christopher-luxon-wont-say-if-nz-supports-us-strikes-on-iran/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Labour remains ahead on most of the key issues in the latest Ipsos Issues Monitor, but National has improved its ratings on the economy and the cost of living.

The rating of the government’s overall performance has also rebounded from its record low in the previous survey.

The quarterly survey asks a thousand New Zealanders what they think are the three most important issues facing the country, and the political parties they believe are most capable of handling them.

Labour is seen as most capable on three of the top five issues, and equal with National on a fourth.

In total, Labour leads in 14 of the top 20 issues.

Respondents believed Labour had the best handle on inflation/the cost of living, healthcare, and housing.

National is still seen as most capable on law and order.

While Labour overtook National on the economy in the previous survey, the parties are now neck and neck.

In the rest of the top 20, Labour is also ahead on unemployment, poverty/inequality, drug/alcohol abuse, petrol prices/fuel, education, immigration, household debt/personal debt, race relations/racism, transport/public transport/infrastructure, taxation, and population/overpopulation.

National is seen as most capable on defence/foreign affairs/terrorism, the Greens are ahead on climate change and environmental pollution/water concerns, and Te Pāti Māori is seen as most capable of handling issues facing Māori.

The cost of living and inflation remains New Zealanders’ number one concern, with 59 percent of people identifying it as a key issue, down from 61 percent in the previous survey.

35 percent of people believe Labour is the best party at handling the issue, a slight dip of one percentage point.

National has risen to 28 percent, up from 24 percent.

Healthcare is still the second most important issue, but decreasing again on previous surveys, with Labour on 37 percent.

National is on 25 percent, closing the gap from 19 points in the previous survey to 12.

On the economy, both Labour and National are on 32 percent.

Petrol prices has entered the top 10 issues, while immigration has risen four places to joint 11th.

Despite the country being affected by devastating weather events over the summer, there was no increase on climate change as an issue.

Overall, the government’s performance was rated 4.2, up from a record low of 3.9 in the previous survey.

This brings the government back to the same rating as the February 2025 and August 2025 surveys, though still not as high as the 4.7 it rated in October 2024, and well off the survey’s record high of 7.6, which the Labour-led coalition reached in May 2020.

The study was conducted using online research panels between 11 and 18 February 2026, with 1,000 New Zealanders aged 18 and older asked what the top three issues were facing the country today. Quotas were set to ensure representativeness.

The total New Zealand results have a credibility interval of +/-3.5 percentage points.

See the full survey here.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/02/labour-still-ahead-on-cost-of-living-neck-and-neck-with-national-on-economy-ipsos-survey/

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Foreign Affairs minister says New Zealand was not given any advance notice of the attack on Iran, and has again urged New Zealanders to leave if it is safe to do so.

The United States and Israel launched a major attack on Iran, with US President Donald Trump claiming the attack killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

At this stage, the United Nations were unable to confirm the Ayatollah’s death.

The New Zealand government said the US and Israel’s actions were “designed to prevent Iran from continuing to threaten international peace and security,” and condemnded Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.

It also called for a “resumption of negotiations and adherence to international law,” urging the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution that “returns Iran to the community of nations.”

Speaking at the Defence Force base at Auckland’s Whenuapai on Sunday, Winston Peters said all sorts of people would want to “pontificate” on the attack, but the rule of law needed to be enforced.

“Iran has been a promoter of terrorism in countless theatres for decades now. That’s not an excuse for what you’ve seen. But it is an explanation,” he said.

It was “premature” to talk about what New Zealand would do if things escalated, Peters said.

“Let’s see what we’re dealing with. We’re doing our best to talk to our international partners and other collaborators around the world.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade had told New Zealanders in the region to shelter in place, and to follow the advice of local authorities and register on SafeTravel.

Peters said there were around 34 to 38 New Zealanders registered in Iran, but there would be “many more.”

The government has long told New Zealanders in Iran to leave, a message Peters reiterated if people were able to do so.

“It will be very difficult in the risky cities. But if you’re out in the countryside and can get away, give it a go. Otherwise, try and say safe, stay inside, and we’ll see how things develop. But it’s very, very difficult for us, this far away from personal circumstances to tell people what to do,” he said.

“Mind you, we’ve been telling them for weeks to get ready, just in case this happened. Maybe next time, listen to the government of New Zealand, who does care what their future might be.”

A repatriation flight was possible, “if it comes to that,” but it was too risky at the moment.

“We’ll do our best that we can, but we are a long, long way from this conflict. Way out in the south west Pacific. Let’s not get too rushed trying to be involved here.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/01/watch-foreign-minister-winston-peters-on-iran-strikes/