NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather forecasts

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Christchurch mosque shootings: Judge stops wife of gun lobbyist from importing 20 military-style semi-automatics

Sam Hurley
By Sam Hurley
NZ Herald Print Editor·NZ Herald·
22 Mar, 2019 10:35 PM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

How NZ reacted after the Christchurch shootings.

A businesswoman and wife of the head of the largest pro-firearm lobby group attempted to import 20 military-style semi-automatic guns and 100 magazines into New Zealand before a judge was required to stop the arms deal, a newly released court decision reveals.

It is the same type of firearm Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a ban on this week, after the weapons were used to kill 50 people and wound dozens more in the March 15 terror attacks on two Christchurch mosques.

Legislation will be rushed through Parliament under urgency and the new law, Ardern expects, will be in place by April 11.

However, back in April 2017, New Zealanders were still able to import and buy military-style semi-automatic (MSSA) rifles if they had the correct licence.

Jennifer Clark was one such person - a licensed firearms dealer.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Along with her husband, Paul Clark, she owns NZ Ammunition Ltd, or NZ Ammo, which imports guns, ammunition, explosives and associated equipment and supplies.

Paul Clark was the chairman of the Council of Licenced Firearms Owners and a loud voice in a select committee inquiry over illegal guns. He also wanted the ear of influential politicians - including then Police Minister Paula Bennett - in the run-up to the 2017 general election.

The Police Association accused Bennett of bowing to the gun lobby after she rejected 20 recommendations for tighter gun laws.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

NZ Ammo supplies other licensed dealers, retail outlets and government departments, including the New Zealand Defence Force and police. But it does not have a retail shop and does not sell MSSAs direct to the public.

Despite this, the Commissioner of Police refused Jennifer Clark's application in April 2017 to import 20 MSSAs and 100 magazines from Heckler and Koch, a German arms manufacturer.

An MR 223 rifle, as pictured on the website of Heckler and Koch, a German arms manufacturer. Photo / Supplied
An MR 223 rifle, as pictured on the website of Heckler and Koch, a German arms manufacturer. Photo / Supplied

Included in the proposed cache were 12 MR 223 model rifles, eight MR 308 model rifles, and the 100 magazines for those rifles.

Heckler and Koch's website describes the MR 223's gas system as being "developed for military use" and able to fire a 30 round magazine.

Discover more

New Zealand|crime

Analysis: Will accused gunman's trial be behind closed doors?

20 Mar 02:30 AM
New Zealand|politics

Assault rifle and military style semi-automatic weapons to be banned

21 Mar 04:32 AM
New Zealand|crime

Several arrested for 'inciting fear' after Christchurch attacks

21 Mar 10:30 PM
KiwiSaver

Does your KiwiSaver invest in guns?

24 Mar 07:44 PM

After police turned away Clark's application she took the case to court, appealing the Commissioner's decision.

On Thursday, the same day Ardern announced the MSSA gun ban, the Wellington District Court publicly released its judgment in Clark's case.

Clark said in her application the "special reason" to import the MSSAs was for on-sale to other licensed dealers and E category firearms holders.

There are about 4500 E category licence holders, and about 400 licensed dealers, in New Zealand, the judgment states.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a ban on MSSAs after the Christchurch terror attacks. Photo / Alan Gibson
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a ban on MSSAs after the Christchurch terror attacks. Photo / Alan Gibson

The Police Commissioner, through his delegate inspector, refused, arguing this did not constitute a special reason. "Special reason" is not defined in the Arms Act, but the provisions for MSSAs were added in 1992 following the Aramoana massacre.

However, the Police Operations Advisory Committee did approve a policy in July 2012 to define what could be included as a "special reason", such as participating in a shooting discipline or sport at an incorporated sports club event.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

In an affidavit in support of Clark, Robert Andrews - a pest control contractor - said there was a demand for MSSAs amongst commercial and recreational hunters.

Paul Clark also provided an affidavit to the court, explaining why he and his wife need to have stock to sell. He said a minimum of 20 MSSAs needed to be imported to be economic.

An affidavit from Quentin Macleod further described seeing MSSAs displayed for sale at Gun City in Christchurch.

Clark's lawyer, Lisa Hansen, argued the affidavits proved there was a demand in New Zealand for MSSAs. She said MSSAs were an important and effective tool for use in pest control, and when they wore out, replacement parts and firearms were needed.

A judge stopped the importation of 20 MSSAs, including eight MR 308 rifles, pictured. Photo / Supplied
A judge stopped the importation of 20 MSSAs, including eight MR 308 rifles, pictured. Photo / Supplied

But when making his decision, Judge Bill Hastings said: "I do not think the Commissioner was wrong to exercise his discretion to refuse the application to import these MSSAs, nor am I convinced that the reason offered by Ms Clark is a 'special reason' why these 20 MSSAs should be allowed into New Zealand."

He said dealers, like anyone else, must satisfy police there are special reasons for allowing MSSAs into the country.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"That they have been vetted as fit and proper persons to hold a dealer's licence gives them no special or greater status to import MSSAs than anyone else," Judge Hastings said.

"To allow a dealer to import MSSAs simply because she is a licensed dealer and because they are required for on-sale to licensed dealers and E category firearms dealers, would circumvent any consideration of why the MSSAs should be allowed into the country."

The judge did, however, accept there was a demand for MSSAs amongst sport and recreational hunters and pest controllers, but said there was not enough evidence from the affidavits to satisfy Clark's MSSAs shipment.

After announcing the MSSA ban this week, which was met with bipartisan support, Ardern told media there would also be a gun buyback scheme.

There is now also an amnesty in place allowing people to hand MSSAs over to police.

On Monday, Cabinet will consider further measures to tighten firearms licensing and penalties, impose greater controls over a range of ammunition, as well as addressing a number of other issues relevant to special interest groups such as international sports shooters and professional pest controllers.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Parasite spread by cats may have cost 10,000 New Zealanders their sight

17 May 04:08 AM
New Zealand

'Top dollar for no services': Residents decry council neglect

17 May 04:00 AM
New Zealand

Afternoon quiz: In August 2022, what happened to author Salman Rushdie?

17 May 03:00 AM

The Hire A Hubby hero turning handyman stereotypes on their head

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Parasite spread by cats may have cost 10,000 New Zealanders their sight

Parasite spread by cats may have cost 10,000 New Zealanders their sight

17 May 04:08 AM

University of Otago says 40,000 people have ocular toxoplasmosis, one in four seriously.

'Top dollar for no services': Residents decry council neglect

'Top dollar for no services': Residents decry council neglect

17 May 04:00 AM
Afternoon quiz: In August 2022, what happened to author Salman Rushdie?

Afternoon quiz: In August 2022, what happened to author Salman Rushdie?

17 May 03:00 AM
‘Bittersweet’: Why family left mouldy property where their baby died

‘Bittersweet’: Why family left mouldy property where their baby died

17 May 03:00 AM
Gold demand soars amid global turmoil
sponsored

Gold demand soars amid global turmoil

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP