WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The opening of the FBI New Zealand office has been overshadowed by an unusual diplomatic misstep. FBI Director Kash Patel, the highest-ranking Trump administration official to visit the country so far, presented senior New Zealand law enforcement and intelligence leaders with 3D-printed replica pistols in July.
The pistols, which formed part of display stands, were later deemed potentially operable under New Zealand’s strict gun laws. Authorities confirmed they were subsequently destroyed.
Replica Pistols Ruled Illegal
Possession of pistols in New Zealand requires a separate permit, and even inoperable firearms are treated as if they are functional if modifications could make them usable again.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers confirmed that after review, the weapons were confiscated and destroyed:
“To ensure compliance with firearms laws, I instructed Police to retain and destroy them.”
Patel had gifted the replicas to Chambers, Andrew Hampton (Director-General of the NZSIS), and Andrew Clark (Director-General of the GCSB). Officials described the items as challenge coin display stands with a 3D-printed pistol as part of the design.
Security and Diplomatic Ripples
The incident sparked debate. James Davidson, president of the FBI Integrity Project and a former FBI agent, described the move as a well-intentioned gesture but criticized New Zealand’s decision as an overreaction, suggesting the replicas could simply have been permanently disabled.
The controversy comes against the backdrop of New Zealand’s toughened gun control laws, introduced after the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings, in which 51 worshippers were killed. Since then, gun ownership has been framed as a privilege rather than a right, with strict permitting systems.
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FBI New Zealand Office and China Tensions
Patel’s July visit coincided with the opening of the FBI’s first standalone office in New Zealand, aligning the country with other Five Eyes intelligence partners including the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia.
However, Patel stirred diplomatic unease by suggesting the FBI office aimed to counter China’s influence in the South Pacific. Wellington downplayed the remarks, emphasizing the office’s primary mission as cooperation on child exploitation and drug smuggling.
Public records later revealed Patel met with more than a dozen senior officials, including Cabinet ministers, during his visit.
Broader Context of Gun Laws in New Zealand
New Zealand has no broad culture of civilian gun ownership, and violent firearm crime remains rare. Unlike in the U.S., police officers on routine patrols are typically not armed.
The replica pistols Patel presented were not semi-automatic rifles banned after Christchurch, but under New Zealand’s legal framework, their possession without proper permits still constituted a breach.
