Foreign guns get initial approval

By Eugene Bingham

Changes to the gun laws will give police greater control over foreign agents bringing weapons to New Zealand for Apec, says a parliamentary committee report.

But an Alliance member of the committee has spoken out about the proposed changes, fearing they go too far.

The New Zealand Herald revealed yesterday that while authorities have created the impression bodyguards are unarmed during VIP visits, police have sometimes turned a blind eye to illegal guns.

The Arms Amendment Bill will clear up the situation by allowing authorised foreign bodyguards accompanying delegates at Apec to carry guns.

Parliament's foreign affairs, defence and trade select committee has given its approval to the bill on the grounds that it introduces a measure of control.

"The process by which foreign personal protection officers may bring firearms into New Zealand is now more strictly controlled by the police than ever before," said the committee in its report.

"It is not the purpose of the bill to be used as a tool for limiting the rights of New Zealanders to lawful protest during the Apec meetings."

But an Alliance member of the committee, Matt Robson, said the Government was eroding the law under pressure from foreign powers, particularly the United States.

"The Government has failed to withstand that pressure," he wrote.

"The Alliance believes ... the amendment is not the restricted legislation the public expects."

While the public had been told that sidearms would be the most likely weapons carried, the legislation left it up to the Commissioner of Police to decide what type of weapons could be brought in.

"These include restricted weapons which can be anything from machine-guns and machine pistols to rocket launchers," said Mr Robson.

He was also concerned that the police would not be able to adequately scrutinise and monitor the agents asking to carry weapons.

Other members of the committee, however, believed the police would be able to properly screen the agents.

"The police have assured us they will remain in charge of overall security," said the committee's report.

Each armed foreign officer would be accompanied by a New Zealand counter-part.

"In the event of any threat to a dignitary, it will be the role of the foreign officer to protect and escort the dignitary away from the threat. It will be the role of the police to respond directly to the threat in question."

Parliament is due to debate the bill this month.