MSSA Bill reported back

Written By: - Date published: 8:10 am, April 9th, 2019 - 10 comments
Categories: act, Christchurch Attack, crime, david seymour, democratic participation, law, law and "order", national, Politics, terrorism - Tags:

Michael Wood and Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee have done an outstanding job and have reported back the Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Bill in the timeframe originally planned.

12,953 submissions were received.  60% of submissions analysed were supportive, 26% opposed and the balance made more complex comments.

Few changes have been made to the Bill.  Radio New Zealand has the details:

The Finance and Expenditure Select Committee has recommended only minor changes to the government bill banning semi-automatic rifles.

The committee finished its deliberations [yesterday] and published its report on the bill [yesterday] evening.

The report recommends changing the bill so pest controllers can use semi-automatic rifles on private land, rather than only in areas managed by the Department of Conservation.

It also calls for an exemption allowing people to keep heirloom weapons, so long as they are made inoperable by removing a vital part to be stored at a separate location kept secure by police.

The Green Party noted it considered this exemption to be at odds with the purpose of the amendment, and called for collectors’ firearms to be made permanently inoperable, despite the reduction in value this would entail.

The committee rejected calls to exempt competitive shooters from the ban because that would allow more semi-automatic firearms to remain in circulation.

David Seymour complained about the process being rushed.  Perhaps if he had rushed into Parliament last week he could have made things more difficult for the Government although the result would no doubt have been the same.

And there was support from interesting corners.  From the summary of submissions:

The majority of members of Rural Women New Zealand (Inc.) also supported the Government’s ban on military-style semi-automatics and assault rifles. The majority of their members (60%) did not believe semi-automatic firearms had a place on farms, and further supported the classification of prohibited firearms as set out in the Bill.

National filed a minority report.  I agree with their concern at the bill allowing for changes of definitions of ammunition being able to be made by order in council.  It should be in parliament passed law.  

Also the act contains “Henry VIII clauses” which allow the Government to amend the primary Act by regulation.  Again this is bad practice although understandable in the circumstances.

They also regret that MSSAs will not be able to be used in sporting contests.  I find it hard to imagine a legitimate sporting contest that involves the use of MSSAs.

Parliamentary debate on the bill is due today.

10 comments on “MSSA Bill reported back ”

  1. Dennis Frank 1

    I find it hard to imagine a legitimate sporting contest that involves the use of MSSAs.

    Well, I can imagine a sporting contest using MSSAs, though legitimacy could be an issue. The Nats could advocate a guerilla warfare tournament, in which macho white supremacist dudes wearing crusader iconography could fight it out with macho islamist dudes wearing the motif of the prophet. Conduct it on Auckland Island, to minimise collateral damage, with reality tv coverage so the tube violence addicts also get off on it.

    Good to hear that it looks like a credible gun law is in the making. Will be interesting to see if parliament actions it today or if the debate is prolonged till tomorrow.

  2. Anne 2

    Thanks mickysavage.

    Just goes to show what can be achieved in such a short space of time when all parties co-operate with one another. I applaud all of them – even David Seymour… who had a little tanty along the way but he can’t help himself.

    Today’s debate will be worth watching.

    The next step along this path is the introduction of laws against Hate Crime and Hate Speech. As someone who was a victim of both in days gone by, I am seriously thinking of making a submission. However, I need to speak with someone who has knowledge and expertise in this area or who can at least guide me through the correct processes.

    When the time comes, is it alright if I contact you for advice micky? I presume I can access your email via the backend of TS.

    • Formerly Ross 2.1

      I don’t believe we need a law against hate speech as we have various related laws already. Any specific law against hate speech would not have prevented the massacre in Christchurch.

      https://i.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/111869621/when-does-free-speech-become-hate-speech

      • Anne 2.1.1

        You have missed the point about Hate Speech FR.

        What is being talked about is the kind of speech where a person wittingly spreads lies and innuendo about another person (or a group) causing them to be seriously harmed by way of loss of job or career/loss of income/ loss of good reputation and at the more severe end of the scale… persecution and criminal acts against the person/persons being targeted.

        A recent example was Mark Blomfield. As a result of smears and innuendo spread by Cameron Slater through his blog “Whale Oil”, that man was persecuted and physically set upon by a gun wielding intruder who, iirc, also issued threats to his life. He lost his business, his friends and if I remember correctly he also lost his home and had to go into hiding.

        • Psycho Milt 2.1.1.1

          What is being talked about is the kind of speech where a person wittingly spreads lies and innuendo about another person…

          We already have a law against that (Defamation Act 1992), as well as a law against hate speech (Human Rights Act 1993, section 61). The latter one is already in conflict with the Bill of Rights Act, and any attempts to make it even more restrictive would make that conflict even worse. The last thing the country needs is an increase in authoritarianism.

          • Formerly Ross 2.1.1.1.1

            We also have a Harmful Digital Communications Act which deals with online harm and abuse. In the Bloomfield case, the matter went to court and Bloomfield was successful. Presumably if legislation was enacted to outlaw hate speech, an alleged victim would still need to go through the courts to get redress.

            • lprent 2.1.1.1.1.1

              See my expanded reply below.

              Blomfield is still at it 7 years after taking it to court.

              The HDCA isn’t targeted at hate speech of any kind. It is targeted at person to person nastiness, orientated towards teenagers and run by an organisation that are effectively useless as dealing with actual adults.

              The trick with hate speech is to deal with the questionable first – then argue in courts to establish precedence for the police and others to be guided by in teh future.

          • lprent 2.1.1.1.2

            PM: The problem isn’t if there are laws to deal with it. The problem is if there are ANY laws that are effective at dealing with it. That is a whole different matter.

            With Matt Blomfield and Slater, the defamation case is currently in its 6th or 7th year. It started in 2012. That was essentially an open and shut case. The documents that Slater was relying on did not support the facts that he alleged.

            Yeah Slater deliberately lied a lot, obstructed the courts, used a complete legal dickhead (Dermot Nottingham) as legal assistance and represented himself a lot. In the end Slater was simply unable to present a defense and ran out of the courts patience and appeals.

            Slater’s approach to him being a complete lying arsehole in his posts about Blomfield and then being called on it in a defamation action wasn’t to allow the courts to make a determination. Instead he rode himself over 6-7 years into personal bankruptcy and the site company (and co-defendant) into liquidation rather than deal with the issue that he, Slater, was legally in the wrong. And most of the expense landed on the plaintiff.

            As far as I am concerned that shouldn’t have been a civil matter, it should have been a criminal one.

            Defamation law is hardly worth bothering with due to its ability for the defendant to obstruct the courts and is inappropriate as well for hate speech.

            As far as I am aware the HRA s61 is in the same position. I don’t think that there is much case law or use on it due to the difficulties in even making a case.

            The nearest we have to actually being an appropriate law with the required speed is the HDCA, and that as an act is so heavily flawed because the agency tasked with doing the pre-court is essentially incompetent when it goes past its intended target audience – teenagers. I’ve had exactly one HDCA approach on this site, and Netsafe were clearly incapable of following the rules laid down in the Act. They didn’t provide any of the information required for me to pass the request to the author of the post.

            Besides it wasn’t targeted at hate speech.

            In my opinion, we need a procedure with way more summary authority in making speedy determinations of potential hate speech – because we don’t have anything at present. Specifically something that can take preemptive action to take crap down or detain idiotic fuckwits before the courts make their determination.

            It isn’t like it is particularly hard to identify what steps over the bounds, especially on the net. Nor is it that hard to stop technically on request. What is usually a problem at a technical level is that it requires some precision about how to deal with it – and particularly in the online spaces.

            There isn’t a lot of point in dealing with anything 7 years or even a year after the fact (think roastbusters)..

          • Anne 2.1.1.1.3

            The last thing the country needs is an increase in authoritarianism.

            You have misunderstood my point PM. My understanding is the law as it presently stands is confined to crimes based on gender, sexuality and ethnicity.

            Hate crimes are not always confined to one of those three basic premises and if the crimes committed fall into another category altogether – for example they may be politically motivated – then the victim is likely to receive scant attention from the police. At least that has been the experiences of the past. Sometimes the victim can even find themselves being treated as the perpetrator which is what happened to me.

        • McFlock 2.1.1.2

          nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

          We don’t want to bring back libel laws. Like a lot of law, while they nominally protect everyone, in reality they only protect the rich and the powerful.

          Blomfeld has his own civil case. Maybe there should be greater controls around sheltering wealth from civil liability (oh, random acts like, and I don’t know where I get these ideas from, putting assets into trust, making your spouse the owner of your companies, and declaring yourself bankrupt and assetless), but that’s a different issue.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • PREFU shows no recession, growing economy, more jobs and wages ahead of inflation
    Economy to grow 2.6 percent on average over forecast period Treasury not forecasting a recession Inflation to return to the 1-3 percent target band next year Wages set to grow 4.8 percent a year over forecast period Unemployment to peak below the long-term average Fiscal Rules met - Net debt ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New cancer centre opens in Christchurch
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall proudly opened the Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch today. The new facility is the first of its kind and was built with $6.5 million of funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group scheme for shovel-ready projects allocated in 2020. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government invests in top of the south’s roading resilience
    $12 million to improve the resilience of roads in the Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman regions Hope Bypass earmarked in draft Government Policy Statement on land transport $127 million invested in the top of the south’s roads since flooding in 2021 and 2022 The Government is investing over $12 million to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New Zealanders continue to support the revitalisation of te reo as we celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Mā...
    Ko tēnei te wiki e whakanui ana i tō tātou reo rangatira. Ko te wā tuku reo Māori, e whakanuia tahitia ai te reo ahakoa kei hea ake tēnā me tēnā o tātou, ka tū ā te Rātū te 14 o Mahuru, ā te 12 o ngā hāora i te ahiahi. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New Wildlife Act to better protect native species
    The 70-year-old Wildlife Act will be replaced with modern, fit-for-purpose legislation to better protect native species and improve biodiversity, Minister of Conservation Willow-Jean Prime has announced.   “New species legislation is urgently needed to address New Zealand’s biodiversity crisis,” Willow-Jean Prime said.   “More than 4,000 of our native species are currently ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Further safety initiatives for Auckland City Centre
    Central and Local Government are today announcing a range of new measures to tackle low-level crime and anti-social behaviour in the Auckland CBD to complement Police scaling up their presence in the area. “Police have an important role to play in preventing and responding to crime, but there is more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Govt confirms additional support for Enabling Good Lives
    The Government has confirmed $73.7 million over the next four years and a further $40.5m in outyears to continue to transform the disability support system, Minister for Disability Issues Priyanca Radhakrishnan has announced. “The Enabling Good Lives (EGL) approach is a framework which guides positive change for disabled people, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New Zealand gets AAA credit rating from S&P
    Standard and Poor’s is the latest independent credit rating agency to endorse the Government’s economic management in the face of a deteriorating global economy. S&P affirmed New Zealand’s long term local currency rating at AAA and foreign currency rating at AA+ with a stable outlook. It follows Fitch affirming New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Appointment of Environment Court Judge
    Christchurch barrister Kelvin Reid has been appointed as a Judge of the Environment Court and the District Court, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. Mr Reid has extensive experience in Resource Management Act issues, including water quality throughout the South Island. He was appointed to the Technical Advisory Group advising the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • NZ’s biggest ever emissions reduction project hits milestone
    New Zealand is on track to have greener steel as soon as 2026 with New Zealand Steel’s electric arc furnace project reaching a major milestone today.   The Government announced a conditional partnership with New Zealand Steel in May to deliver the country’s largest emissions reduction project to date. Half of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Poroporoaki: Paki Leslie Māngai Nikora
    Pokia ana te tihi Taiarahia e Hine-Pūkohu-rangi Hotu kau ana te manawa! Horahia ana te whārua o Ruātoki e te kapua pouri Tikaro rawahia ko te whatumanawa! Rere whakamuri kau ana te awa o Hinemataroa Ki te kawe i te rongo ki te mātāpuna i nga pōngaihu Maungapōhatu, tuohu ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • 50,000 charges laid in crack down on gangs
    Police Minister Ginny Andersen has today congratulated Police in their efforts to crack down on gangs, after laying 50,000 charges against gang members and their associates through the hugely successful Operation Cobalt. As at 31 August, Police have: Laid 50,396 criminal charges against gang members and their associates Issued 64,524 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Farmers and cyclone-affected properties supported with tax rule changes
    The Government has confirmed details of the tax changes to the bright-line test for cyclone-damaged properties, with the release of the required legislative amendments. Revenue Minister Barbara Edmonds has released a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) to be considered by the Finance and Expenditure Committee in the next Parliament, as it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New Zealand wins CPTPP dispute against Canada
    Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor has welcomed the CPTPP Panel’s ruling in favour of New Zealand in our dispute against Canada, a significant win for our primary sector exporters. The Panel found that Canada’s dairy quota administration is inconsistent with its obligations under the Comprehensive and Progressive ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New intensive turnaround programme launched to break the cycle of offending
     The next phase of the Government’s response to youth crime is underway, with an intensive programme for the country’s most prolific young offenders launched today in Auckland, Minister for Children Kelvin Davis said. The programme, announced by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins in July, will see up to 60 recidivist young ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Government extends report date for COVID inquiry
    The Government has agreed to a request from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 for extra three months to deliver its final report. The Royal Commission was established in 2022 to strengthen New Zealand’s preparedness for any future pandemics. It was originally due to conclude mid-2024. “The Commission has ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Wainuiomata school property upgrade making great progress
    The Wainuiomata High School redevelopment is making great progress, with two more classroom blocks set to be complete by the end of the month, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. The Prime Minister visited today to see first-hand the progress of the redevelopment which is continuing at pace and is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Language week focuses on sustaining Lea Faka-Tonga
    New Zealand’s Tongan community are coming together to promote language sustainability this week, as Uike Lea Faka-Tonga – Tongan Language Week begins.  “For our Pacific communities, language is more than just a means of communication. It’s an important way to link generations and maintain connections to our ancestral roots,” Barbara ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-09-21T20:12:45+00:00