Newshub can reveal the number of firearms parts intercepted at the border is outstripping the number of actual guns.
It's led to concern the rise in gun crime could be driven by parts being smuggled into the country.
Police figures show violent firearms offences have increased, from 981 in 2017, to 1141 in 2019, and 1335 last year.
"As worse as it's ever been right now," said Billy McFarlane, a former meth dealer who spent 14 years in prison for supplying meth and now runs a rehab programme.
McFarlane has insight into New Zealand's crime scene and told Newshub there's something that stands out to him in today's criminal environment.
"There's probably 10 times more guns available than there were 15 years ago."
In 2017 the number of firearms intercepted at the border was 996 and by 2021 - with tougher gun restrictions - the number had fallen to 199.
Compare that to the number of gun parts intercepted during the same period, from 363 in 2017, peaking at 4666 in 2019, and remaining high ever since at 3741 last year.
National MP and customs spokesperson Simon O'Connor is concerned about the numbers.
"I think there has to be a relationship between the spike in gun crime and the fact that we are seeing more firearms coming into the country illegally."
Firearms and anything that attaches to them requires a permit to import. That needs police approval. Without it, Customs can seize the items.
"Now that they've outlawed automatic weapons the parts are going to come in to turn the rifles into fully automatic weapons," McFarlane told Newshub.
"We also know that you can make those gun parts now with a 3D printer."
Gun Control NZ's Philippa Yasbek blames the rise in firearms crime on open gang warfare and the evolving drug underworld.
"Changes in the New Zealand gang scene with the arrival of the 501s from Australia as well as changes in our sources of methamphetamine," she told Newshub.
One proposed solution is a firearms registry. Public consultation for that began on Wednesday, with the aim for it to be in place by mid-2023.
But Gun Control NZ wants it to be in place as soon as possible.
"That would significantly stem the flow of guns to the black market and to gangs," Yasbek said.
Police Minister Chris Hipkins said the Government's moving as fast as it can.
"It's not a straightforward exercise as you can imagine because there's a lot of guns in circulation already," he told Newshub.
"We've got to make sure that we've got processes in place to capture information about those."
Because as long as there are guns in New Zealand, McFarlane said: "There's always going to be guns in the wrong hands."
