© 2026 ABC News

Ardern said Cabinet ministers made an in-principle decision to tighten gun ownership laws in a meeting immediately after the horrific shooting, which left 50 dead. The massacre marked the deadliest shooting in New Zealand history.

The Australian white supremacist charged in the attack had not been flagged by intelligence officials before the well-planned shooting.

BREAKING: New Zealand prime minister announces sweeping gun law changes after mosque shooting. “In short, every semiautomatic weapon used in the terrorist attack on Friday will be banned in this country.” https://t.co/jpcSvS7rD7 pic.twitter.com/B2A2ImeSKH

— ABC News (@ABC) March 21, 2019

Before the attack, New Zealand prided itself as one of the safest countries in the world -- a place where many police officers didn’t even wear their guns in public.

\"PHOTO:
Fiona Goodall/Getty Images
PHOTO: Locals lay flowers in tribute to those killed and injured at Deans Avenue near the Al Noor Mosque, March 16, 2019, in Christchurch, New Zealand.
>

Chris Cahill, the president of the New Zealand Police Association, told ABC News that law enforcement officials might need to reconsider that officer gun policy now.

He said the country plans to conduct a thorough investigation into how they responded to the attack.

\"We intend to learn some lessons from America as well,\" Cahill said in an interview Tuesday. \"One is gun control can stop these and we will be having gun control in New Zealand and it’s a debate that America needs to have if the right people aren’t afraid.

\"Mourners
The Associated Press
Mourners arrive for a burial service of a victim from the March 15 mosque shootings at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Christchurch, New Zealand, Thursday, March 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
>

\"When I think about the reaction after shootings in the United States, it has been amazing to see how many people in New Zealand are rallying behind the Prime Minister’s push to strengthen the country's gun laws,\" Cahill added.

Ardern promised more changes could be coming with gun laws, including surrounding licensing, registration and storage.

ABC News' Darren Reynolds and Will Carr contributed to this report.

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