Thank you for contacting the office of Hon Nicole McKee, Minister of
Courts, Associate Minister of Justice.
The Minister considers all correspondence important and appreciates you
taking the time to write. Please note that as Minister McKee receives a
large amount of correspondence it is not always possible to personally
reply to all emails.

The following guidelines apply:

* Portfolio related correspondence will be considered and responded to
where appropriate

* If your message is for Minister McKee’s advice, or if you have copied
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course. Please note this email is an acknowledgment that your
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* If you have made a request for official information then this will be
managed in accordance with the provisions of the Official Information Act
1982, which may include transfer to a more relevant Minister or agency

* If your email falls outside of the Minister’s portfolio
responsibilities, expresses a personal view, or is copied to multiple
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correspondence may be transferred to another office, or there may be no
further response to you

* Media queries will be referred to the Minister’s press secretary

Again, thank you for writing.

Office Hon Nicole McKee
Minister of Courts | Associate Minister of Justice

Kia ora,
 
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act request dated Monday 2 February 2026. You have requested the following information:
 
"Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following information relating specifically to the consideration of pepper spray (oleoresin capsicum) for civilian and or retailer possession or use in New Zealand, as it pertains to the responsibilities of Hon. Nicole McKee as Associate Minister of Justice with oversight of the Arms Bill:

1. All briefings, reports, policy advice, aide memoire, or written recommendations prepared for, or provided to, Hon. Nicole McKee from 1 January 2023 to present that reference or discuss:
* Pepper spray or oleoresin capsicum
* Civilian access to self-defence sprays
* Non-lethal or less-lethal personal protection devices under the Arms Act

2. Any correspondence (including emails, letters or meeting notes) sent to or from Hon. Nicole McKee, or her Ministerial staff, that discuss or reference:
* The potential legalisation, decriminalisation, or reclassification of pepper spray
* Policy options for civilian access to pepper spray
* Any proposed changes to Police policy or Arms Act regulations relating to pepper spray
* Any proposed changes to removing pepper spray from the restricted weapons list

3. Any requests for advice, instructions, or directions made by Hon. Nicole McKee or her office to:
* The Ministry of Justice
* New Zealand Police
* The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet concerning pepper spray or civilian self-defence spray options.

4. Any Cabinet papers, Cabinet Committee papers, or briefings to Cabinet that were provided to, or requested by, Hon. Nicole McKee which reference pepper spray or oleoresin capsicum.

If any part of this request is refused under the Official Information Act, I request that the remainder be released, along with the grounds for refusal under the Act. I am happy to receive the requested information in electronic form." 

We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than Tuesday 3 March 2026, being 20 working days after the day your request was received in our office. Please note this timeframe takes into account Waitangi Day.

If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.
 
Kind regards,

 
Office of Hon Nicole McKee
Minister of Courts | Associate Minister of Justice
Email: [email address]
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
Authorised by Hon. Nicole McKee, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
 
Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is prohibited and may be unlawful.
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Catherine Hughes <[FYI request #33626 email]>
Sent: Monday, 2 February 2026 11:07 pm
To: Nicole McKee (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Pepper spray legalisation for civilian use

Kia ora,
Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following information relating specifically to the consideration of pepper spray (oleoresin capsicum) for civilian and or retailer possession or use in New Zealand, as it pertains to the responsibilities of Hon. Nicole McKee as Associate Minister of Justice with oversight of the Arms Bill:

1. All briefings, reports, policy advice, aide memoire, or written recommendations prepared for, or provided to, Hon. Nicole McKee from 1 January 2023 to present that reference or discuss:
* Pepper spray or oleoresin capsicum
* Civilian access to self-defence sprays
* Non-lethal or less-lethal personal protection devices under the Arms Act

2. Any correspondence (including emails, letters or meeting notes) sent to or from Hon. Nicole McKee, or her Ministerial staff, that discuss or reference:
* The potential legalisation, decriminalisation, or reclassification of pepper spray
* Policy options for civilian access to pepper spray
* Any proposed changes to Police policy or Arms Act regulations relating to pepper spray
* Any proposed changes to removing pepper spray from the restricted weapons list

3. Any requests for advice, instructions, or directions made by Hon. Nicole McKee or her office to:
* The Ministry of Justice
* New Zealand Police
* The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet concerning pepper spray or civilian self-defence spray options.

4. Any Cabinet papers, Cabinet Committee papers, or briefings to Cabinet that were provided to, or requested by, Hon. Nicole McKee which reference pepper spray or oleoresin capsicum.

If any part of this request is refused under the Official Information Act, I request that the remainder be released, along with the grounds for refusal under the Act. I am happy to receive the requested information in electronic form.

Ngā mihi,

Catherine Hughes

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