During a recent trip to New Zealand, FBI Director Kash Patel shared a gift with local security officials—a non-functional pistol that had to be destroyed due to local gun regulations.
This 3D-printed replica pistol was part of a display stand given to several members of New Zealand’s security force back in July. Patel, who is notably the highest-ranking official from the Trump administration to visit, was in Wellington to inaugurate the first independent FBI office in New Zealand.
Under New Zealand law, owning pistols is highly restricted and requires special permits beyond the standard gun license. It’s not clear whether the officials at the meeting with Patel held the necessary permissions. Without them, they would have been unable to legally retain the gift.
The nature of the permissions Patel sought for bringing these items into New Zealand remains unclear. A spokesperson for Patel mentioned to the Associated Press that the FBI had no comment on the matter.
The Pistol Was Handed Over and Destroyed
New Zealand treats inoperable weapons as if they can function, according to Police Chief Richard Chambers. Although it wasn’t specified how this particular pistol became inoperable before being presented to Patel, it typically indicates some temporary disabling of the weapon’s firing mechanism.
The gift was given during a meeting on July 31 to three key figures in New Zealand law enforcement: Chambers himself, Andrew Hampton, who leads the local intelligence agency (NZSIS), and Andrew Clark from the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), as indicated by a joint statement from their departments.
A representative from the spy agency described the item as a “challenge coin display stand” containing the 3D-printed pistol as part of its design. Following the inspection, authorities sought guidance from New Zealand’s firearms regulators regarding the legality of accepting such gifts, Chambers reported.
Upon examination, it was found the items could potentially be altered to function, leading to Chambers directing that they be seized and destroyed to ensure compliance with local laws.
James Davidson, a former FBI agent and current president of the FBI Integrity Project, expressed criticism of Patel’s appointment yet acknowledged that the gift seemed to be a genuine gesture. He called the subsequent destruction of the replica an overreaction, suggesting it could have simply been rendered permanently non-functional.
New Zealand’s Strict Gun Control Laws
In New Zealand, 3D-printed firearms are classified similarly to any conventional weapon. Following the tragic events of 2019 in Christchurch, where two mosques were attacked, the country has tightened its gun control measures significantly.
The replica gifted to law enforcement wasn’t a semi-automatic firearm, which are currently banned, but there are still various regulations that restrict what types of weapons individuals can own, particularly pistols that necessitate special permits.
New Zealand’s culture doesn’t emphasize gun ownership. Following mass shootings, public perception has shifted to view firearms with greater skepticism. Under local law, gun ownership is considered a privilege rather than a right, leading to stricter guidelines.
Although rural areas sometimes utilize firearms for pest control, violent gun crimes are quite rare. Many urban residents might not even encounter a firearm in daily life, and police officers generally do not carry guns while on patrol, leaving them secured in their vehicles.
Patel’s Comments on China Caused Controversy
Patel’s visit stirred up some unease in New Zealand, partly because the opening of the new FBI office was initially kept away from the media and public. A July FBI statement noted that New Zealand is aligned with other “Five Eyes” nations in their missions.
The office aims to handle local FBI operations that have been managed from Canberra, Australia since 2017. Recent public records disclosed that Patel met with various elected officials during his stay, though it’s uncertain how many personnel actually received the pistol.
Patel also sparked diplomatic tension in Wellington before his visit by stating that New Zealand was working to counter China’s influence in the South Pacific. This assertion prompted some officials to respond cautiously. While Patel emphasized that strengthening the FBI’s presence focused on combating child exploitation and drug trafficking, his statements drew criticism from Beijing.
