September 2026 Newsletter
Content Summary:
In this monthly update, you'll find out more about
1,000 Sentinel members, the Arms Act going live, and a busy month of advocacy
Thank you to the NZ Antique and Historical Arms Association Taranaki Branch
Political town halls and party survey responses
OIA library addition: drug swab refusal and your licence
Platform interview: the new firearms system takes effect
Upcoming events: Try Shooting This Summer
Your member shop discount code
New Zealand firearms policy news
International focus: Australia after Bondi
Dear Member,
September has been one of those months where the calendar could barely keep up. One notable trend I saw was 7 calls from people needing support or advice who at some stage during the call, said "I hadn't heard of COLFO until I Googled looking for help". It was a good reminder that although our reach is growing, there is still work to do in order to reach the majority of our 220,000-strong community.
On 23 September the Arms Act 2026 came into force, and Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand (FSE) began work as the independent regulator. Existing licences remain current. That's the headline. The real work now is watching how the new settings land for licence holders day-to-day, and what happens to the regulations after the election.
Alongside that, we kept the political and practical work moving. We hosted digital town halls so you could hear parties answer firearms questions live, and published every party survey response we received. We shared a member update on an OIA result about roadside oral drug swabs and licence outcomes. And we kept pushing Try Shooting This Summer, because growing the licensed community is still the best long-term defence of our sport.
Around the world, lawful firearm ownership is under pressure, and Australia's post-Bondi reforms are a live warning for us. With the general election on Saturday 7 November and advance voting opening on 26 October, now is the time to read party positions, ask candidates clear questions, and get your mates paying attention. Tell them about COLFO and the valuable work we are doing to support all hunters, shooters, and collectors.
This month we reached a real milestone: our first 1,000 Sentinel members. That's a great accomplishment, and thank you to every one of you who signed up. But this is only the beginning. Interest keeps growing as the new Act beds in and election season ramps up, with more owners joining and asking how to protect their licence and support advocacy.
Stay Engaged
Join the conversation on our Facebook page or our YouTube Channel. We will keep you updated on the Arms Act Regulations and other developments.
Thank you for your continued support.
Bye for now,
Hugh Devereux-Mack
COLFO
Email: Hugh@colfo.org.nz
Thank you to the NZ Antique Arms Association's Taranaki Branch
This month COLFO has received an extraordinary gift from the Taranaki Branch of the New Zealand Antique and Historical Arms Association: $17,000, being the proceeds of their 2026 fundraising auction, donated to support COLFO's work for licensed firearm owners.
With around sixty members, that contribution works out to an incredible amount per person. It makes Taranaki NZAHAA one of the most generous organisational supporters COLFO has. We do not take that lightly.
Auctions like this are not a weekend hobby. They take months of collecting and cataloguing lots, photography, compliance, sale day, and the admin that follows. On behalf of COLFO, thank you to everyone who put that work in, including Andrew E., Dennis and Kaye L., Adrienne, Zac D., the helpers on the day, and the Arms Officers who assisted. And thank you to the whole Taranaki branch for the confidence and support that made a COLFO-purpose auction possible.
As a small token of our thanks, the organising committee will each receive a limited edition gold COLFO badge.
Collectors and historical arms owners are a vital part of New Zealand's licensed firearms community. Their willingness to put time, expertise, and hard-won proceeds behind advocacy for all licensed owners matters, and it will strengthen the work we do nationwide.
From all of us at COLFO: thank you, Taranaki NZAHAA.
