The Council of Licensed Firearm Owners (COLFO) welcomes the data collected in the University of Otago's study on costs of firearms-related incidents. COLFO supports evidence-based research that illuminates firearms' multifaceted role in New Zealand's long-established culture of responsible legal ownership, hunting, and sport shooting.
 

"We applaud studies that contribute to informed public discourse, but it's essential to appreciate that almost all the non-suicide harm in the report comes from criminal misuse of firearms, not legal, licensed firearm ownership," said Hugh Devereux-Mack, COLFO's Public Spokesperson.

“Data is important to shaping that safely allow firearms to continue as tools integral to rural life, conservation efforts, and recreation for hundreds of thousands of Kiwis." Devereux-Mack said.

He pointed out that the data does not support the report’s conclusion that more laws will improve public safety and lower costs of harm.

“The 1992 law change does seem to have reduced suicide, but that was an unintended consequence. The explicit rationale at the time was public safety, following the Aromoana murders."

“The laws did not stop the murders they were designed for - homicides continued unaffected.”

The study found 819 of 1,014 deaths were from self-harm. Suicide statistics show firearms are used in approximately 10% of annual cases and have remained relatively consistent for the last 2 decades.

“Every death is a tragedy, which is why COLFO supports the work done by the newly formed charity Mental Hunts, and improved mental health systems for license holders” says Devereux-Mack.

"Safe firearm use starts with robust training, and we're disheartened that the government is no longer funding the HUNTS programme, New Zealand's largest volunteer-run hunter training initiative by the NZ Deerstalkers Association," Devereux-Mack said.

It is also deeply concerning to learn that “NZ Police’s new licensing training model (effective July 2025) is forecasting to deliver less than half of previous Mountain Safety Council training volumes, further hindering well-trained licence holder growth.”

To contextualise the risks of legal firearms use within sports and recreation, COLFO analysed ACC data comparing firearms-related injuries (hunting, target shooting, and similar activities) to rugby (League and Union) and road traffic over 2000–2018, aligning with the study’s period. Absolute injury numbers are higher for rugby and road traffic than for firearms, but when adjusted for estimated participants, rates per 1,000 participants per year show rugby’s injury rate is ~376 times higher than firearm sports reflecting contact risks, while road traffic injury rates were 29 times higher than firearm sports.

“The facts are clear, when licensed firearm owners practise our sports legally, our culture of safety and emphasis on proper handling of firearms makes shooting sports one of the safest that anyone can enjoy.”

“Illegal firearms in criminal hands are the true driver of disproportionate harm, not the responsible hunters and sport shooters who form the backbone of our community."

The study highlights disparities, including higher risks for Māori in firearms homicides (three times that of Europeans) and elevated hospitalisation rates for Māori and Pasifika peoples from assaults. COLFO notes that an estimated 7–10% of New Zealand's 235,000 active firearms licence holders are Māori, reflecting their strong participation in hunting and rural traditions. However, more research into these elevated harm rates and whether they stem from socio-economic factors, gang-related illegal firearm use, and barriers to accessible training, which are distinct from law-abiding licensed ownership.

"More targeted work is needed to ensure Māori and Pasifika communities receive equitable access to high-quality training and licensing support," Devereux-Mack added.

As Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee advances the Arms Act rewrite, COLFO calls for policies prioritising accessible training and range facilities, and addressing criminal firearm use without eroding New Zealand's proud heritage of legal firearm ownership and hunting.

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