WORLD · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
New Zealand Appoints Registered Counsellor to Firearms Advisory Group
WHY IT MATTERS
The appointment of a registered counsellor to the Advisory Group may help inform firearms policy with a focus on mental health and community engagement, potentially leading to a more balanced approach to firearms regulation in New Zealand.
What happened
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has welcomed the appointment of Kathryn Wright, a registered counsellor from Southland, to the Minister's Arms Advisory Group. Wright brings experience as a rural mental health practitioner and board member of Mental Hunts, a national mental health charity.
She replaces Michelle Roderick-Hall and Dr Catherine Stephenson, who resigned in June. Wright's appointment is for a three-year term, commencing 12 August 2026.
The Minister's Arms Advisory Group provides advice on firearms legislation, regulation, safety, and the operation of New Zealand's firearms system.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Registered counsellor appointed to Minister’s Arms Advisory Group
New Zealand Government Beehive · beehive.govt.nz · New Zealand Crown copyright; accurate reproduction/translation with attribution; third-party media excluded