October 2026 Newsletter
Content Summary:
In this monthly update, you'll find out more about
A big month of advocacy, and why your vote matters on 7 November
The regulator's five-firearm cap proposal, and FSE's Chief Executive responds
Digital town halls are complete: watch all four
Launch of the COLFO OIA Library
Win a Haenel Jaeger 10 rifle: how the Christmas draw works
See you at the Sika Show, Mystery Creek
Your member shop discount code
New Zealand firearms policy news
International focus: Australia's buyback begins
Dear Member,
October has been a month of answers. We set out to put the questions licensed firearm owners care about directly to the people who make the decisions, and that is exactly what happened.
We finished our series of digital town halls, giving you the chance to hear ACT, the Greens, NZ First and National answer firearms questions live. Every recording is now online, and every party survey response we received is published in full so you can compare positions for yourself.
When a leaked document showed the then Police-controlled regulator had privately proposed capping licensed owners at five firearms and running another buy-back, we went straight to the top. We wrote to Dr Kelvin Watson, the Chief Executive of Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand (FSE), and asked for a response by 23 October. He replied by letter dated 22 October, and you can read what stood out below.
We also opened the COLFO OIA Library, published a fresh batch of Official Information Act responses, and got ready to meet you in person at the Sika Show at Mystery Creek on 7 and 8 November.
Across the Tasman, New South Wales has opened bookings for its national gun buyback. It is a clear reminder of how quickly lawful owners can be targeted once the political mood shifts, and why a strong national voice matters here. It is refreshing to see a growing number of retailers there refusing to assist the government with the buy-back and politicians encouraging licensed firearm owners not to comply until after the election as some parties are committed to reversing the caps. We will be watching this closely.
Please vote. The general election is on Saturday 7 November and advance voting is open now. Read where the parties stand, watch the town halls, and make your voice count.
Stay Engaged
Join the conversation on our Facebook page or our YouTube Channel.
Cheers,
Hugh DM on behalf of your Volunteer COLFO Team.
Five-Firearm Cap and Another Buy-Back: The Regulator Responds
On 12 October we went public after the Sporting Shooters Association of New Zealand (SSANZ) published an excerpt of a confidential document. It showed the regulator had advised capping licensed owners at five firearms, based on an average of five firearms per licence holder across 75,688 registered holders, and floated another buy-back.
There is no basis in evidence or public safety for any of this. Turning an average into a limit is arbitrary. We wrote to Dr Kelvin Watson the same day, asked him to say whether FSE disowns the proposals, and asked for a response by Friday 23 October.
He responded on time. Dr Watson replied by letter dated 22 October 2026, with a follow-up email on 27 October. Three things stand out:
Transparency: he is happy for us to publish his letter and email.
Engagement: he has offered to join licence holders for a town hall type session "at the appropriate time".
Evidence: he says decisions will be "anchored in the purpose of the Arms Act and evidence of risk".
That is a promising start, and we thank him for a prompt and courteous reply. A new name on the door does not by itself change a culture, so we will stay watchful. Members can read the full correspondence on our website.
Digital Town Halls Are Complete
Thank you to every member who sent in questions, and to the four MPs who fronted up:
ACT, Hon Nicole McKee (21 September)
Greens, Scott Willis (24 September)
NZ First, Hon Casey Costello (15 October)
National, Hon James Meager, Minister for Hunting and Fishing (28 October)
Every recording is on our YouTube channel, with timestamps in the descriptions so you can jump straight to the topics you care about. Every party was invited to take part. COLFO is not here to favour anyone. Our job is to give you a neutral platform so you can make up your own mind.
COLFO Town Hall with Hon Nicole McKee, ACT.
COLFO Town Hall with Scott Willis, Green Party.
COLFO Town Hall with Hon Casey Costello, NZ First.
COLFO Town Hall with Hon James Meager, National.
Where do the parties stand? Every party survey response is published in full and unedited, so you can compare positions yourself.
Now, please vote. Election day is Saturday 7 November and advance voting is open. Talk to your mates, your club and your family about where the parties stand on firearms.
Launched: The COLFO OIA Library
Official Information Act requests are one of the most powerful tools we have. They show what the regulator, Police and government agencies are actually doing, not just what they say in public.
The COLFO OIA Library brings those responses together in one online database for members. There are two easy ways to find what you need:
Search the library by topic or keyword.
Ask CHAZ, COLFO's AI assistant, and let it point you to the right response.
This month we added responses on licence exits and reinstatement applications, IPCA complaints and convictions, strawbuying charges, ACC home visits to licensed firearm owners, Enudge bulk email and licence holder data, technical inspection of imported firearms, and traffic offending in fit and proper assessments.
Have an interesting OIA response of your own? Share it with us here.
Win a Haenel Jaeger 10 Rifle
To say thank you for standing with us this year, one COLFO member will be drawn on 10 December 2026 to receive a voucher for a brand new Haenel Jaeger 10 rifle, valued at over $2,000, generously gifted by our friends at NZ Ammo.
How many chances do you have? One. Every financial member of COLFO on 10 December 2026 is included automatically with one entry, and every entry is equal. There is no ticket to buy, no entry fee and nothing to fill in. No one gets extra entries for any reason, including membership type or inviting friends.
A current New Zealand firearms licence is required to redeem the voucher. There is no cash alternative.
Know someone who should be a member? Share the video above. Inviting friends will not change your own chances, but every new member makes our voice stronger, and anyone who is a financial member on 10 December is included too.
Upcoming Events: See You at the Sika Show
The Sika Show is on at Mystery Creek, Hamilton, on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November. Come and find us at the COLFO stand. We would love to meet you, hear what matters to you, and talk about the work ahead after the election.
A huge thank you to our sponsors for backing COLFO at the show:
Gun City
Hunters Element
Kilwell Sports
Night Vision
TDH Gear
Please support the businesses that support licensed firearm owners. And if you are heading to Mystery Creek on Saturday, remember to vote before you go if you have not already.
COLFO SHOP DISCOUNT CODE
Your members-only discount code to save 15% off all orders in November is:
XDQZXY6KH52S
New Zealand Firearms Policy News
New OIA responses published
On 24 October we published a batch of new Official Information Act responses, including licence exits and reinstate applications, IPCA complaints and convictions of licence holders, strawbuying charges and convictions and ACC home visits to licensed firearm owners.
What can licence holders say online?
Grant Fletcher asks why lawful speech can still cost a licence holder their licence, and why the line is not drawn in writing. Read the opinion piece.
ACT firearms policy consultation
ACT released a consultation document on its firearms policy, with feedback closing on 26 October. Read our summary.
International Firearms Politics: Australia's Buyback Begins
New South Wales is the first state to run the Commonwealth's National Gun Buyback Scheme, with costs shared 50:50 with the federal government. Bookings opened on 26 October and surrenders start on Monday 2 November at six police stations, with a further 34 stations joining from 1 December (NSW Government, NSW media release via Sydney Times).
New limits of four firearms, or 10 for some categories, mean owners above the cap must hand firearms in. Phase 1 pays fixed prices from $450 for an air rifle to $1,000 for a revolver or centrefire, with a second phase in early 2027 for firearms valued over $3,000, capped at $10,000. The scheme runs for 12 months, and the NSW Government estimates around 18% of licence holders are eligible, with up to 274,000 firearms involved.
Uptake is uncertain. By 5pm on the first day, 100 owners had registered and 30 had booked appointments, and farming groups say there is no reason to surrender anything until the rules on exemptions are clear (Sydney Morning Herald). Other states and territories are still in discussions (Department of Home Affairs).
Sound familiar? A cap on how many firearms you can own, followed by a buy-back of the "surplus", is exactly what our own regulator floated in private. That is why we act quickly, and why we keep watching Australia. What happens there will be quoted at us here.
If your business or product needs to reach hunters and shooters, then why not advertise with COLFO? We've worked with Gun City, MTN Gear, and others to help share their products with people who are interested.
COLFO channels gain over 600,000 unique visitors and more than 4 million eyes on the brand yearly. Feature in targeted emails to members and gain visibility on our website, which attracts over 16,000 visitors each month.
Whether it is gear reviews, a service to promote, standard advertising, or something out of the box get in touch and let's see how we can help in a way that is measurable and benefits your business.
Together, we can secure the future of all licensed firearm owners.
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