New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced upcoming legislation to ban assault rifles and semi-automatic weapons in reaction to last week's massacre of 50 people at two mosques in Christchurch.

"Now, six days after this attack, we are announcing a ban on all military style semi-automatics (MSSA) and assault rifles in New Zealand," said Ms. Ardern.  "Related parts used to convert these guns into MSSAs are also being banned, along with all high-capacity magazines."

The new legislation is expeced to be in place by 11 April, at the end of the next two-week sitting session.  Until then, New Zealand will restrict any "panic buying" of such weapons by requiring individuals to get police permission before any purchase.  This will be accompanied by a gun buyback scheme to ensure "fair and reasonable compensation" for people scraping off their military kit.

The ban will also ban parts to convert weapons into semi-automatics, and parts to simulate the rapid-fire of MSSAs.

Earlier in the day, MPs received a petition with 65,000 signatures calling for a ban on military-style weapons.

"I have been steadfast in my belief that the vast majority of these owners will support what we are doing here today because it is about all of us," Ms. Ardern said.  "It is in the national interest and it is about safety.  I will work hard to retain that support as we work on the remaining tranches of reform that we must make to prevent an act of terror happening in our country ever again."