A police officer patrols area near the site of a shooting in central Auckland on July 20, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

WELLINGTON — The New Zealand government on Friday announced new measures that will enable police to crack down on gangs through Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPOs).

"Firearms are being illegally used by gangs to intimidate, to commit violent crime in support of their profit making, and to initiate gang warfare that law-abiding citizens get stuck in the middle of," said Associate Minister of Justice (Firearms) Nicole McKee.

The government will introduce legislation to ban all gang insignia in public places, create greater powers to stop criminal gangs from gathering in groups and communicating, and give greater weight to gang membership at sentencing

The Firearms Prohibition Orders Legislation Amendment Bill is to give police greater powers to search gang members for firearms, which is part of the government's goal to restore law and order, McKee said.

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Courts will be able to issue orders to any member or associate of a gang that has been convicted of a significant offence. Police will also be granted new powers to search offenders with a FPO, their vehicles, and their premises for firearms at any time, she said.

"Keeping firearms out of the hands of gang members and high-risk offenders is needed to ensure public safety," she added.

The bill also amends the FPO regime to allow people subject to an order to apply to the court after five years to have their FPO varied, modified, or revoked, if someone can demonstrate that they no longer pose a risk to public safety, McKee said.

These changes will make New Zealand a safer place, she added.

Friday's announcement was one of a series of measures to crack down on gangs.

On Monday, New Zealand police announced they will have more lawful power to crack down on gangs, giving greater weight to gang membership as an aggravating factor at sentencing, enabling courts to impose more severe punishments.

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The government will introduce legislation to ban all gang insignia in public places, create greater powers to stop criminal gangs from gathering in groups and communicating, and give greater weight to gang membership at sentencing, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said.