'He didn't know': Paul Henry u-turns on firearm policy

Sarah Perriam-Lampp & Andy Thompson Sarah Perriam-Lampp & Andy Thompson|July 20, 2026|In CONNECT

‘He didn’t know’: Paul Henry u-turns on firearm policy

Nicole McKee, ACT deputy leader and Associate Minister of Justice says newly-announced ACT candidate Paul Henry has reversed his position on firearm policy. In an interview with Stuff on first day as a candidate, he said there is no need that he can think of why they need semi-automatic weapons.

“He didn’t understand or know the policy,” McKee says.

The following day Henry went and investigated ACT’s firearms position.

“He saw what ACT’s doing, why we are doing it, how we are doing it, and he’s totally on board with us.”

McKee says trust between licensed firearm owners and police collapsed after 2019 but is now rebuilding under the Firearm Safety Authority (FSA). She expects it to strengthen once the FSA is pulled from the police and refocused on education in September.

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.

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