Gun owners are being warned time is running out to hand over now-prohibited weapons, with only 50 days left until the amnesty ends.
A selection of firearms which are now prohibited, on display to media at a police press conference. Photo: RNZ / Ana Tovey
People can currently hand over their prohibited weapons and parts for compensation at approved firearms dealers and buyback events across the country.
The buyback has been running since 20 June and has received just over 32,000 firearms and 120,000 parts. Around $62 million has been paid out as compensation.
But the amnesty will end on 20 December and criminal penalties will be handed down to anyone found with a prohibited weapon and there will be no exemption.
Deputy police commissioner Mike Clement told Morning Report it's not gun owners' fault the weapons are now banned but they need to follow the rules.
"Don't be the person that doesn't hear that message and comply with it because you don't want to be unlawfully in possession of one of those firearms after the 20th of December, that's not what you are or who you are, so do the right thing."
Mr Clement said he believes resistance to the buyback has now died down and most of the gun owners who are yet to hand in their weapons haven't done it because they're busy.
But he's warning there will be no sympathy for people who haven't gotten around to it once the deadline passes.
"We've got at least 150 more local collection point events to hold right up and down the length of the country and there's 41 dealers involved in the buyback, so please get onto the website and avail yourself of the opportunity to get those firearms surrendered cause you're going to get money for it.
"After the 20th, you're not going to get money, you're going to be unlawfully in possession of them, liable to a penalty of five years' imprisonment and you're going to lose your gun licence."
