The Arms Bill consultation opened on December 11, 2025, and it was a defining moment for hunters and shooters across New Zealand. Once again, our community was asked to have its say on laws that touch our sport, our culture and the right to hunt responsibly in the great New Zealand outdoors.

This time, hunters didn’t sit back. They stepped up in force, delivering one of the strongest responses our community has ever mustered.

Cutting Through the Noise

To cut through the legalese, COLFO released our Everyman Guide on Christmas Eve. Even with the holiday timing, it was downloaded 2,453 times and was our fastest guide yet.

The goal was simple: give hunters straight facts in plain language, free of political spin or courtroom jargon. Hunters want practical information they can trust, and the response proved how much that matters when the future of our sport is on the line.

A Game-Changing Tool for Submissions

In the final week, COLFO rolled out something new: our Submission Generator. It let hunters pick the points they supported, add their own experiences from the bush or range and file a genuine, individual submission.

The result? An impressive 6,143 submissions in just seven days. This tool was new to the select committee and has raised the bar for how communities can engage with government. Most importantly, it brought in many hunters who’d never made a submission before. We don’t yet know how many total submissions were received, but that’s a good sign as it means, unlike in 2019, Justice are taking their time to read and process every single one of them.

We’re now refining the tool further and offering free hosting to other hunting and shooting organisations. Whether it’s dealing with councils, producing guides or backing our sports, teamwork delivers results. Just contact us, and we’ll help you out, because that same spirit of mateship we rely on in the hills works just as well when standing up for our rights.

The Strength of the Hunting Community

A big thank you to everyone who read the guide, used the submission tool or took the time to write their own submission. Special recognition goes to the volunteers who helped others through the process.

Hunters know the value of teamwork – whether it’s packing out a stag or backing each other at the range. This consultation showed what’s possible when rifle shooters, shotgun enthusiasts and hunters from every discipline stand together. Unity has never been more important.

A Strong Message from the Recent COLFO AGM

At our recent COLFO AGM, we were honoured to be joined by Associate Minister of Justice, the Hon Nicole McKee. The Minister delivered a clear and timely warning: hunters and shooters must not think the job is done now that the first round of consultation and the first reading of the Arms Bill are behind us.

She stressed that more consultation is coming in the near future. COLFO will keep everyone fully informed through our channels. If you care about sensible, practical gun laws that respect responsible hunters and shooters, now is the time to join our free mailing list or support our work by becoming a member.

The Government expects the Arms Bill to proceed toward its next stages, with the goal of having it passed into law before the election. That means things will happen fast and staying engaged is essential.

What’s Next for COLFO

After 30 years as a proudly volunteer-led organisation, COLFO is professionalising to meet the challenges ahead. Overseas, licensed owners in places like Canada, England and Australia continue to face tightening restrictions. Closer to home, anti-gun groups remain ready to exploit any incident to push for more controls.

We need to stay organised, informed and proactive. Being reactive is no longer an option, so we need a war chest to fight the key cases in court to stop the insanity bedding down in our legislation.

Eyes on the Election

While we push for a good outcome on the Arms Bill, COLFO is also preparing for the next election. We’ll be looking closely at where political parties and local candidates stand on firearm laws, so hunters can make informed choices at the ballot box. Knowing who are your friends, and who aren’t, has never mattered more.

Growing and Protecting Our Future

We’re concerned about the number of licensed firearm owners who are letting their licences lapse. At the moment, it’s around 500 per month on average. Every lost licence weakens our collective voice. At the same time, we strongly encourage new hunters to get into the licensing process. A strong, responsible and growing community of hunters is the best insurance for the future of our sport. You’ll see us working more actively to support clubs and helping fit and proper people to get their licences.

Stand With COLFO

If you value this work, consider joining COLFO. For $99 + GST per year, members receive:

Up to $2,500 in legal support to help protect your licence from unjust suspension or revocation.

The chance to help build the strong, professional advocacy group our shooting sports desperately need.

Hunting has always been rooted in responsibility, respect for the game and standing your ground when it counts. Together, we can ensure those values carry on for the next generation of Kiwi hunters.

Join the free mailing list or sign up as a member today at colfo.org, because the fight for fair laws continues.