In July 2022, high-ranking official Kash Patel from the Trump administration visited New Zealand to inaugurate the FBI’s first dedicated office in the country. During his visit, he presented five 3D-printed replica revolvers inspired by toy Nerf guns to senior New Zealand security officials, including the police and spy chiefs, as well as two cabinet ministers. However, New Zealand has strict firearms laws that prohibit the possession of such weapons without the proper permits. As a result, all five officials were compelled to surrender and destroy the gifts shortly thereafter. The internal communications within the New Zealand police department confirmed that these inoperable pistols met the legal definition of firearms in the country. According to expert assessments, 3D-printed weapons are treated in the same category as conventional firearms under New Zealand law, making the act of gifting them highly controversial and problematic. With no permits to legally own such items, the officials had no choice but to relinquish the revolvers for destruction. Further complicating the situation, police evidence indicated that such guns could easily be made operable with minimal modifications. Experts expressed serious concerns over the potential for these weapons to be altered and subsequently used in crime. Some noted the risk of the guns being unsafe, given that they were produced without the rigorous safety standards enforced by armories. The police armory team leader highlighted how easy it would be to make these replica guns functional, requiring little more than a battery drill and basic screws for the firing mechanism. Amid heightened attention on firearm regulations following past incidents in New Zealand, public and police scrutiny on illegal weapons has been intensified. The firearms union emphasized the need to monitor the repercussions of such easily modifiable weapons potentially falling into the wrong hands. Overall, the incident highlighted the significance of adhering to New Zealand’s strict firearms regulations and brought attention to the issues surrounding 3D-printed weaponry on an international level.