Our mission at Te Tari Pūreke – Firearms Safety Authority is to make firearms use in Aotearoa the safest in the world. We do this by effectively regulating firearms use and possession to help keep our communities safe.

Our te reo Māori name – Te Tari Pūreke – reflects our practical purpose and function, to protect firearms users and all communities. It was gifted to New Zealand Police by Waikato-Tainui as we were being established.

The gifting was coordinated by a member of the Commissioner’s Māori Focus Forum and representative for the King’s office, Rahui Papa.

Pūreke is a traditional raincape made from harakeke (flax leaves). Unlike the possible more well-known cloaks like korowai, which is ornate and made of feathers, pūreke were more functional and a form of protection against the rain and elements.

Tari is an office or department.

Pū is a weapon and is common for firearms.

Reke is the butt of a weapon but can also mean inquiry or investigation.

Te Tari Pūreke is an office of enquiries into firearms.

Te Tari Pūreke exists to support, shelter and protect our communities from unsafe use and possession of firearms so we can be the safest in the world.