Firearms Reform Minister Says Police Association’s Opinion Is Not Needed

Nicole McKee is the Minister responsible for Firearms Reform.
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

A representative of the firearms reform and the deputy minister of justice claim that the president of the Police Association is throwing his toys out of bed because he is not achieving what he wants.

Police Association president Chris Cahill wants Nicole McKee’s portfolio handed to the Police Minister, claiming the deputy justice minister has excluded the union from consultations on firearms law reform.

But McKee said Checkpoint she didn’t need the opinion of the Police Association, since she already had the opinion of the entire police force.

“We are doing targeted consultations on some of the legislative reforms that we want to see implemented in this term of government and while the Police Association feels they have been excluded, we have actually included the New Zealand Police, which represents the whole frontline, not just those who are in the union.”

McKee said the Police Association will have a chance to present its application during the selection committee’s deliberations.

“No draft bill has been developed yet, but we said that all draft bills will be subject to consultations and will be available in parliamentary committees,” she said.

“There is no need for every single entity to be involved at this very early stage and the Police (Association) will have an opportunity to provide their views in the very near future as we start to make these proposals a reality.”

McKee added that the groups consulted were set up by the previous Labor government and, as far as she knew, the groups had not changed since then.