New Zealand's government has agreed to reform the country's gun laws in the wake of last Friday's massacre at two mosques, in which 50 people were killed, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed.

Ardern said that the “worst act of terrorism on our shores” had exposed a range of weaknesses in New Zealand’s gun laws.
Speaking after her weekly Cabinet meeting Monday evening local time, Ardern told reporters that ministers had agreed “in principle” to reform gun laws.

“Within 10 days of this horrific act of terrorism we will have announced reforms which will, I believe, make our community safer,” she said.

While acknowledging that “for a short period” planned reforms might create uncertainty for some gun owners, Ardern said: “I strongly believe that the vast majority of gun owners in New Zealand will agree with the sentiment that change needs to occur.”

The Prime Minister also announced that there would be an inquiry into the specific circumstances leading up to Friday’s attack.

The inquiry will look into what agencies knew – or should have known – about the gunman’s access to weapons or any impediments into the sharing of information, she said.

It will also look at the individual’s travel movements, activities in New Zealand, use of social media and contact with others.

The key agencies the inquiry would look at include the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, Government Communications Security Bureau, Police, Customs and Immigration, she said.

Ardern said that her government had also had preliminary discussions around ensuring that New Zealanders had an opportunity to commemorate the victims as one but that any national memorial service would not take place this week.

Ardern, accompanied by the governor-general, Dame Patsy Reddy, and Parliament Speaker Trevor Mallard, on Monday opened a national condolence book for victims. People can go to the National Library on Molesworth Street to sign the book.

“While it is a small action, the condolence book offers an opportunity for New Zealanders to unite and express our opposition to hate and state our commitment to the values of love and compassion,” Ardern said.

New Zealand’s largest criminal investigation

New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush told reporters Monday that the investigation into the attacks was the largest criminal investigation ever undertaken by New Zealand police.

He said 250 detectives and specialists were conducting the investigation, with jurisdictions all around the world assisting. The FBI, Australian Federal Police and the New Zealand Police Force’s own partner agencies were also working on the ground in New Zealand, Bush said.

Three days after the shootings, Brenton Harris Tarrant, 28, appears to be the only person in custody who has been linked to the attack.

“We believe that there is only one attacker responsible for this horrendous event,” the commissioner said, adding that it was possible the suspect still could have received support from others.

Bush said the threat level in New Zealand remained high and there would be high visibility from police and emergency service partners “for weeks to come.”

Follow N1 via mobile apps for Android | iPhone/iPad | Windows| and social media on Twitter | Facebook.