Not even remotely true. There’s a progressive series of permits involved depending on the arms in question, but everything up to functional machine guns can be had.
Well watch that change.
Unlike the US—with its 2nd Amendment—NZ’s gov can allow or “disallow” a right. Which means they’ll make ordinary, law-abiding citizens turn in their weapons, whilst the criminals of course won’t. Gun violence get’s worse.
But the cries of “You gotta do something!!!” will win out.