Source: Radio New Zealand
The Firearms Safety Authority was established following the Christchurch mosque attacks in 2019. 123rf.com
A comprehensive review of Te Tari Pūreke Firearms Safety Authority found risks for the authority and police in relation to financial oversight and conflict-of-interest management across police.
RNZ earlier revealed a “health check” of the police agency had begun following concerns over its workplace culture, including intimate relationships as well as financial practices.
The review came after an “internal employment process” at the firearms regulator which was established following the Christchurch mosque attacks in 2019.
- Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz
Police’s Chief Assurance Officer Mike Webb told RNZ the health check of the Firearms Safety Authority (FSA) was completed last month.
“It sought to identify whether disciplines around corporate hygiene and internal controls are widely understood and consistently applied in the FSA,” Webb said.
“The FSA was found to have operated in accordance with police policies in almost all cases sampled from December 2022 to June 2025 and the review identified a number of strengths in its corporate practices and controls.”
The review also made recommendations to “support improved police policy and practice”.
Three recommendations related to the FSA and 19 relate to wider police.
“Of note, the health check report highlighted some operational and governance risks for FSA and Police in the areas of financial oversight, lack of specificity in the sensitive expenditure policy at the time, and conflict-of-interest management across wider police.”
Webb said the FSA’s executive director, Angela Brazier, had accepted the findings and recommendations in the report and “acknowledged there is always opportunity for improvement”.
The report was considered by the police’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT) in late-October, as well as the independent Assurance and Risk Committee in mid-November.
“The Police SLT endorsed action to address the report’s non-FSA-specific recommendations, as well as tracking work on the recommendations.
“Several recommendations have already been actioned – for example, making updates to the sensitive expenditure policy, which are due to take effect from 1 December 2025.”
Brazier was one of several senior leaders within police criticised by the Independent Police Conduct Authority in its scathing report in relation to how police responded to allegations of sexual offending by McSkimming.
The IPCA said Brazier told them she had known McSkimming for about 20 years.
When the Public Service Commission approached her for a reference check on McSkimming in the appointment process for interim commissioner in October last year, she knew McSkimming had an affair, that he was being “harassed” with emails from the woman and that Deputy Police Commissioner Tania Kura had informed McSkimming that she had to investigate him as part of the police response.
However, Brazier told the PSC she had nothing relevant to disclose. She told the IPCA she did not think her knowledge was relevant to PSC’s question.
“Ms G’s disclosure was inadequate in light of her knowledge at the time,” the IPCA said.
A lawyer for Brazier earlier said she was challenging the IPCA’s findings in relation to her.
The lawyer confirmed to RNZ on Tuesday that Brazier was currently on “pre-planned leave”.
Last week, the government announced a new specialist firearms regulatory agency will be created, replacing the FSA. It will be headed by an independent chief executive appointed by the governor-general who would report solely to the firearms minister.
The new regulator would continue to sit within police, but without sworn police officers involved.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
