Police have seized nearly 500 firearms from a single property in Gore, describing it as one of the largest seizures of illegal weaponry ever recorded in New Zealand.
Officers recovered a total of 478 firearms on Friday 6 June while serving a temporary suspension notice at the man’s home. The order allowed Police to revoke the man’s firearms licence and confiscate all weapons in his possession.
Southland Area Commander Inspector Mike Bowman said the scale of the discovery was “shocking.”
“It’s shocking to see so many firearms unsecured… the scale of it is concerning,” Bowman said.
Among the weapons seized were five pistols and several others believed to be either prohibited or restricted firearms, for which the man did not have the proper authorisation. Only six of the firearms were registered in his name. Police also found significant quantities of ammunition and firearm parts, many of which were not stored securely.
Inspector Bowman said it was the largest seizure of its kind in the Southern District “by far.”
While no charges have yet been laid, Police are investigating whether the weapons were intended for criminal use and why they were not registered or properly secured.
“It’s still too early to say whether these firearms were destined for the black market,” Bowman said. “A number of enquiries are being made into this discovery, but the sheer number of firearms involved means that will take some time.”
The man’s purchasing history had raised red flags with the Firearms Safety Authority, prompting further scrutiny.
“Through the Firearms Registry, the Firearms Safety Authority was able to establish the man had purchased multiple firearms since 2023, and not all were registered as they should have been after purchase,” Bowman said.
Police allege the man failed to register older firearms in his possession, as required by law when purchasing new ones. This non-compliance allowed authorities to suspend his licence and carry out the seizure.
Because of the volume of weapons, multiple Police vehicles were needed to transport them from the property. All items are now being securely held by Police until the investigation concludes.
Firearms Safety Authority Executive Director Angela Brazier said the case was a clear example of why the Firearms Registry is vital for public safety.
“Information shared by Police enabled us to quickly suspend the man’s licence for failing to comply with his Registry obligations,” Brazier said.
“Once his licence was suspended, Police could rapidly respond to remove this considerable number of unlawfully held firearms.”
She said most firearms licence holders do follow the law, and the Registry is a critical tool in making it harder for criminals to access weapons.
A recent review of the Firearms Registry confirmed that diversion of firearms to the black market remains a significant risk. Two years into its five-year implementation, the Registry now has more than 86,000 active licence holders registered, and more than 425,000 firearms listed.
Police said the future of the confiscated weapons will be determined after the investigation and any potential legal proceedings are complete.
