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NZ gun club burns down in 'suspicious' blaze

A gun club in New Zealand town of Kaitaia has burnt down in the wake of the Christchurch terror attack.

The gun store burnt down overnight.
The gun store burnt down overnight. Source: Getty

New Zealand police are probing a suspicious blaze that destroyed a small gun club.

Fire crews were called to the scene in the North Island town of Kaitaia at about 4am on Tuesday.

No one was hurt in the incident, but it was being treated as suspicious, a police spokeswoman said.

Kaitaia, New Zealand.
Kaitaia, New Zealand. Source: Radio New Zealand

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It comes only days after at least 50 people were killed in the Christchurch terror attack.

On Monday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed her cabinet has agreed to 'in principle' changes to the nation's gun laws.

Ms Ardern has encouraged New Zealanders to surrender their semi-automatic weapons through a voluntary amnesty, as her government works through changes to firearm laws over the next week.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters. Source: Getty

"To make our community safer, the time to act is now," Ms Ardern told reporters on Monday.

While details of the reforms are yet to be released, Ms Ardern said, "we are of one mind. We are absolutely united as a cabinet".


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